Watch a video and see photos of the Lion Guardians in action at this year's Lion Guardian Games.
About the Games
The first-ever Lion Guardian Games were held this year on the Mbirikani plains of Kenya to bring together Lion Guardians, or traditional Maasai murrans (warriors), to compete in three events: stick and spear throwing and a soccer match. The Panthera supported Living with Lions program organized the Games to familiarize Guardians working at three group ranches and encourage future collaboration with one another and also to thank the Guardians for their dedication and work during a year marked by severe droughts and increased human-lion conflicts.
This compilation of short videos shows the Lion Guardians participating in the Games and receiving and joyously celebrating their awards. Read on to learn about the Guardians' traditional Maasai celerbations.
Be sure to read more about the Lion Guardian Games in our November Newsletter and on the Lion Guardians blog. Also learn more about the Lion Guardians Program and more of our lion conservation work through Project Leonardo.
The Maasai Celebrations Explained
The celebratory dancing, singing and jumping shown in the Lion Guardians Games video and photo gallery are all long-standing traditions in the Maasai culture to celebrate one’s achievements. These festivities customarily take place during various ceremonial events, such as weddings, circumcisions, coming-of-age celebrations marking the end of a Maasai murran’s stage of warrior-hood, and once, lion killings. Dancing is generally performed in semi-circles made up a group of men, giving the spectators, and particularly women, a good view of the dancing. It is also customary for the Guardians to engage in a competitive jumping activity, which is used to show their stamina and strength...and to impress the girls! Festive singing is done throughout all of these activities, as well.
Photo Gallery
Taken by the Living with Lions organization's staff and partners, this photo gallery includes action shots taken of Lion Guardians competing in and celebrating the Games.
From all of us at Panthera, we'd like to say "congratulations" to all of the participants in the 2010 Lion Guardian Games and thanks to Living with Lions for organizing the event!
Special thanks to Kylie McQualter, Philip J. Briggs, Lisette Gelber and the other Living with Lions staff and partners who helped create this video and photo gallery.
