Art Chowder November | December 2017, Issue 12 | Page 50

W
hen my Fulbright ended in the
year 2001, I made two trips to the US
to try and raise the funds for the dance
troupe airfare. This has always been my
worst hurdle. But God has ALWAYS
helped us overcome!
This is the 21 st Century, and it is sad to
note that many of our Maasai people
still live without proper housing, drain-
age, sanitation, food and medical health
facilities. Many women still do not get
education due to the age-old stereo-
typical belief regarding girls’ ability to
excel, as opposed to boys.
We determined then, as I still believe
today, that girls especially need our
attention and support. The practice of
female genital mutilation, which is
still clandestinely practiced, must be
done away with. However, it is not the
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ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE
responsibility of foreigners to eradicate
this custom, but rather ours as Maasai. We
need to help our people let go of obsolete
rituals such as this, and the consequent
early girl marriages to which it leads.
Education is the best alternative, and
the best and strongest way by which
we can empower our girls. Our dance
troupe has made great strides, but we
must not relent.