The fastest man on earth, Usain Bolt was made a Maasai Moran yesterday at a brief ceremony at Segere Ranch in Laikipia where the Zeitz Foundation is establishing a conservation program.
A dozen Morans dressed Bolt in their traditional shuka and presented him with a stick before christening him Loilgwany, the warrior of warriors. It was only after this initiation that the Moran could allow themselves to dance in front of one of the most recognized athletes in the world.
Bolt with local students at Segera Ranch on Sunday
Photo sourceHeavy rains in the area the previous night, made the airstrip at Segera treacherous, delaying Bolt’s arrival by a couple of hours. But the wait was worth it for the Morans who enthusiastically greeted Bolt and posed with him as he did his now famous victory salute.
One Moran said he wondered why people were telling Bolt, “welcome to Africa, since the origin of the human species was in Africa and Bolt, “was just returning home.”
Bolt has spent the last two days at Segera Ranch in Kenya. Bolt together with former 110m hurdle world record holder Colin Jackson are world ambassadors for the Zeitz Foundation which launched its Kenya program on Friday.
Bolt in Massai ceremony
Photo source“I wrote my Maasai name somewhere,” he said and to prove that he was “one of them now” jumped up and down, the elevation impressive, as he simulated the well known dancing style of the tribe.
However, even for a man who on the track, strikes so much fear in his opponents, Bolt had to endure this same feeling while on a game drive early on Sunday morning.“We were even confronted by a bull elephant which came in front of our car. It was really scary. I thought he wanted to charge at us but all he wanted was for us to back off,” Bolt said. “The game drive was wonderful and I really enjoyed it. We will go for another one in the morning (Monday) because I did not see any lions or leopards.”
Click HERE to read the full article by Charles Nyende
and click HERE to learn more about The Zeitz Foundation
Post a Comment