In a Kenyan reserve near Africa’s highest mountain, Masai youths on Saturday swapped traditional lion hunts for a series of sporting events to test and display their prowess and strength.
For generations, Masai warriors had to kill a lion as part of the Olamayio rite to prove their skills, identify their leaders and attract girlfriends. As the numbers of lions in Kenya plummeted from about 30,000 in the 1970s to just more than 2,000 today, community leaders and conservation group Big Life Foundation created the “Masai Olympics” a decade ago to replace hunting with sport.
Draped in colorful costumes and sporting beads, dozens of athletes participated in the fifth edition of the biannual event.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The competition in Kimana Sanctuary, near Mount Kilimanjaro, drew about 160 participants, including 40 women, and is credited with playing a major role in lion conservation.
“It has dropped lion killing to near zero” in the region, Big Life cofounder Tom Hill said.
“There are only 23,000 lions left in Africa and the figure is declining,” he said.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The sanctuary where the games are held is part of the famed Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem near the Tanzanian border.
The games are a “good way to preserve our lands,” said 30-year-old Joseph Lekatoo, who has been competing since 2012.
Esther Sereya, 20, agreed.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“We are learning a lot about the animals,” she said.
Lions are sometimes hunted for attacking livestock, Hill said, adding that the foundation has a fund to compensate herders.
The games saw participants sprint on a hard dirt track for distances ranging from 100m to 5km.
Other competitions have been adapted to local customs. Wooden clubs known as rungus, used to ward off hyenas, are tossed instead of discuses in throwing events. In a revisited high jump event, the goal is to leap into the air to touch a rope with the top of one’s head, like the traditional Adumu dance performed at ceremonies.
Since its inception, the event has been sponsored by David Rudisha, a two-time Olympic champion and world record holding sprinter who is also Masai.
“We are doing this event for conservation,” he said.
Elder Masai men were all praise for the games.
“I killed two lions when I was young,” 66-year-old herder Lenkai ole Ngola said.
“But today, it is important to protect them, because their numbers are declining and also because they provide jobs for young people,” he said, referring to tourism.
Lions are threatened by poaching as well as an unprecedented drought affecting Kenya.
Following several failed rainy seasons, the land on the Kimana reserve is scorched due to the worst drought in the area in 40 years.
The winners of the various events do not receive medals, but are rewarded with cattle, scholarships or money.
Lekatoo won the javelin throw.
“Now, I am hunting the medals,” he said. “I am not hunting lions.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care