Maasai warriors brave the ferry to perform on Arran
Arran youngsters were treated to an exotic and colourful display of song and dance on Monday when a group of seven Maasai warriors performed at the community theatre in Lamlash.
After having performed at Lamlash primary school to a mesmerised young audience the group then performed at the high school where they sang a traditional Maasai prayer as well as traditional songs that have been passed down through the generations of Maasai villagers.
The group, who only one week ago were herding goats on the African plains of southern Kenya, were visiting Arran as part of their two month tour of the UK performing in support of the Osiligi charity which they have been doing since 2003. Raising funds for community projects in their homeland, the Osiligi Maasai warriors have helped their communities with the fundraising which has gone towards building a school, medical centre and an orphanage as well as providing hundreds of water pumps across Kenya. The name Osiligi means ‘hope’, which is what the travelling tribesmen represent to the impoverished and desperately poor people of Oleopolis where many of the group come from.
Head teacher Barry Smith thanked the group for their visit which, he said, added to the large number of visitors and guests who have exposed the students to such a wide variety of cultures, people and values held by others which all contributes to a better understanding and appreciation of various people and their cultures. The visit by the warriors was a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience for many of the students as well as the warriors, who had never experienced a ferry crossing before.