Blogs

  • Maasais are cattle-herders par excellence
    Val Jiwa

    A Maasai’s entire life revolves around livestock. Maasais extract cow blood as follows. Once a month, they take out blood from cows pretty much like people giving blood. They make the jugular artery on the cow’s neck swell by tightening a noose around its neck. At close range, one of them fires a short, blunt arrow from a loosely-strung bow puncturing the vein of the cow. They then collect the blood in a gourd. They stop the bleeding with a wad of dung and mud. In recent times, consumption of blood is waning due to the reduced numbers of livestock.

  • For many Westerners, the fierce, proud, handsome, elegantly tall, and graceful of bearing Maasais are the noble savage of Hollywood
    Val Jiwa

    The Maasais are considered to be cattle herders of Africa. Population growth, development strategies, and a shortage of land have declined cattle raising. However, for many traditional Maasais, cattle are still the breath of life. Adaptation to rapid economic and social change is the greatest challenge the Maasais face. Increased land encroachment threatens their traditional way of life. Sooner or later they would have to come to terms with integrating into the modern economies and political systems. As a result of the challenges faced by the Maasai, there are many support groups and non-governmental organizations working in collaboration with Maasais.

  • Masai boy
    Val Jiwa

    Maasai ceremonies between circumcision and marriage serve to maintain their age-set classes of social system and political culture. But they do not distinguish age or time similar to the advanced and more modern ways. They approximate time in fourteen-year sections. Maasai ceremonies and traditions mark the age-sets in their strictest form. One of the most important Maasai initiation is Emuratare elevating the boys from childhood to adulthood. The fourteenth year culminates in Emuratare or circumcision and the 28th year in Eunoto or marriage. And in between these years, they are warriors with the responsibility of defending the territory where they

  • Masai men
    Val Jiwa

    Despite of a high cholesterol diet, Maasais show no signs of heart or lifestyle diseases. The consumption of unhealthy food seems to have no adverse impact on them. The level of cholesterol, blood pressure, cholesterol gallstones, and hypertension in their bodies is negligible. They tend to have low rates of coronary artery diseases and have excellent endurance. And they burn no more calories than sedentary urbanites. It is indeed a miracle that the Maasais are in good health despite of their diet. The medical scientists often referenced the Maasais as evidence that low-carbohydrate and a high-fat diet is not heart-damaging.

  • Entering into Maasailand is taking a fascinating journey to a land full of symbols
    Val Jiwa

    Maasai is the most known Kenyan tribe, having grown into a brand of tourism and fashion. The tribe is an icon of the diversity of Kenya. Traditional beliefs, pastoral traditions and exquisite artistry of warriors constitute the Maasais. Louis Vuitton has a line that includes Maasai hats, scarves, beach towels and duffle bags. There are currently 80 companies worldwide using the Maasai image. It shows just how well-recognized the brand has become. To the modern world, they may represent fashion brand, but for the Maasais, they are symbolic. Entering into Maasailand is taking a journey to a land of symbols.

  • Masai men
    Val Jiwa

    Maasai rituals are an essential part of their lifestyle. They have survived in part through oral genealogies. Age-sets identify men for the rest of their lives. On the other hand, Maasai culture recognizes women by the age-sets of their husbands. Some ceremonies are for both women and men. Others are solely for the males. Female ceremonial rituals focus on their marriage and circumcision. Both males and females are supposed to undergo circumcision. Each ritual transition between age groups and age-sets is metaphorically a step toward God and old age. Predominantly, the rites of passage are the most famous Maasai festivals.

  • Masai tribe
    Val Jiwa

    Maasais are not only tribal herders but are great politicians and world-class athletes as well. Their aspiration to represent appropriately in the country’s governing classes is evident in Joseph Ole Lenku who vied for a governorship position in the 2017 elections. Similarly, David Rudisha stands testimony to their exceptional athletic prowess. His march towards becoming the third-time gold medalist for the 800m race at the 2020 Olympics is pretty commendable. And he stands a good chance. Anyone fascinated with this nomadic tribe would be equally in awe to learn about the journey of these two Maasai men and their backgrounds.

  • Maasai Mara is a wildlife sanctuary covering 1,510 sq.km that belongs to the Maasai people
    Val Jiwa

    Maasais are facing many political and socio-economic challenges. They live in inconceivable poverty and rely on relief food. Customs, activities, rituals and cattle raiding have been outlawed. Maasai leadership is losing its power because of imposed foreign concepts of development by the western front. Government policies have made Maasai way of life increasingly difficult. At this point, the sustainability of their way of living is uncertain. Although Maasai culture is transforming, its beliefs and values remain strong. Maasais who lead urbanized lifestyle happily head homewards in designer clothes, only to emerge from the Maasailand wearing their shuka and cowhide sandals.

  • Lions are susceptible to tick-borne diseases such as canine distemper and babesia
    Val Jiwa

    Lions are susceptible to tick-borne diseases such as canine distemper and babesia. They contract distemper by eating sick domestic dogs coming from the neighboring villages. Babesia occurs when malnourished animals are vulnerable to disease during droughts. The combination of both these ailments has caused mass fatalities in lion populations. However, it is human conflict that is contributing more significantly to the decreasing rate of lion population. Because of this, Kenya Wildlife Service, in collaboration with local communities, has implemented conservation solutions. Hence, three organizations – Born Free, Lion Guardians, and American Fish and Wildlife Service – have created conservation strategies.

  • Sleeping lion
    Val Jiwa

    Lions are born with blue-grey color eyes, but it begins to change to an orangey brown. They have a small area called Jacobson’s organ on the roof of the mouth that allows them to taste smells. In complete contrast to humans, a lion’s tongue is so rough that if it licks the back of our hand a few times, there would be no skin left. All cats have whiskers, and the fat cats are no exception. A lion’s paws have five toes in the front and four in the back. lion has a long tail that helps it to balance.

  • Woman
    Val Jiwa

    To dream a lion can symbolize a defensive position. You might have a dangerous condition that has entered your life. It represents predatory feelings deep inside you. A lion in dreams also means having the ability to overcome some of your emotional issues by getting in touch with the feelings and taming them, if necessary. Some people dream of lions when they get a feeling of being preyed upon by enemies. Interestingly though, dreams of preying lion bring messages of self-sufficiency implying that you like to spend time alone because you are independent. Also, the lion spirit deals with power.

  • Male lion
    Val Jiwa

    Lion is the only cat family member in which the males differ from the females in appearance – the mane. No other cat has it. Nobody knows for certain why a male lion has a mane and not a female. Researchers are still studying to understand as to why they have manes. So far, there are five theories as to why the males grow a mane. It protects the neck during fights. It keeps cool and clean in hot climates. The mane blends in and camouflages. The female lions get sexually attracted to the mane. And it intimidates other male

  • Trip to africa
    Val Jiwa

    Published research studies shed some light on the workings of a lion’s roar. The secret lies in the vocal cords. In most species, the vocal cords are triangle-shaped and protrude into the airway. But in lions, the protrusions are shaped like squares because of the fat in the vocal cord ligament. This square shape allows the tissue to respond efficiently to passing air, allowing the roar to be louder. The studies also suggest that there is a similarity between a baby’s cry and a lion’s roar. Both have vocal cords that are gel-like that make irregular vibrations to create sounds.

  • People have used lions as a symbol for thousands of years
    Val Jiwa

    People have used lions as a symbol for thousands of years. In some nations, lion causes fear because of the great power it wields and the fact that it walks in silent moccasins. Similarly, lion symbolizes various things in different religions and cultures. Depictions of lions are a millennium old and appear in nations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and throughout the globe. The Flag of Iran bore the Sun and Lion until 1979 from the year 1946. The coat of arms of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechoslovakia, India, Spain, and Sweden has the depiction of the lion.

  • Lion
    Val Jiwa

    The lion is the head of the animal kingdom and thus a non-fearing animal. Hence, the most consistent depiction is the king of jungle. Since time immemorial, people have drawn inferences regarding the characteristics and features of lions and used them in lion symbolism. These inferences have diverse symbolic meaning. For example, a male lion is a symbol of power, and the lioness is the Mother. And in psychology, the lion stands for the latent passions in the unconscious. Lion parts carry different symbolism as well. Its carcass associates with honey, its head with care and its tooth with eternity.

  • he lion symbol has been used since generations and over centuries by different cultures, traditions, and religions who view it as majestic, regal, protector, father, warrior, leader, defender and a soldier
    Val Jiwa

    Centuries ago, lions were the most ubiquitous large land mammals after humans, but today the African lion population is estimated to be a pitiful 20,000 in the wild. According to the estimates from Kenya Wildlife Service out of that roughly around 2,000 remain in Kenya. But the country is losing around 100 of them on an annual basis. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service of America, over the coming 20 years, it is projected to lose 50% of its population. In the past 20 years, its population had collapsed by 50 percent, although some put the decline rate higher.

  • A group of lions is called pride, which forms extended but close family units
    Val Jiwa

    A lion’s meal starts with the entrails such as the heart, kidneys, and liver. But this feral cat’s cuisine tastes vary widely. Some lions will eat everything except the stomach. Others show an adamant preference for the intestines. Some male lions prefer the flesh and will eat the hindquarters, which is the fleshiest part, while the females eat the entrails. The last part they touch is the head, and it is very unusual for them to open the skull. It’s fast-working digestive system allows them to gorge an average of 18kg in one sitting, and go for seconds shortly after.

  • Lion
    Val Jiwa

    A lone lion finds it difficult to catch a prey because the prey they choose to kill is faster and nimbler than the lions and can easily outrun a single lion. So, to increase their success rate, they hunt together using teamwork and smart tactics to bring it down. They form hunting parties to attack the fast animals found in the savannahs. Interestingly, the group organizes the hunting methods very well in a scientific and ruthless manner. They work cooperatively to attack the prey by forming two groups. Each lioness develops her unique role contributing to the success of killing.

  • Morning ride
    Val Jiwa

    Balloon building is a craft century in the making. The invention of one on the 4th June 1783 brings to mind two brothers, both prosperous paper manufacturers, named Joseph-Michel Montgolfier and Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier who made its first forays. They observed that heated air flowing into a fabric bag made it rise. The brothers thought that they had discovered a gas that was lighter than air. In fact, it was merely air, which became buoyant as it was heated. The bag rose because the air within was less dense and lighter than the surrounding atmosphere, which then pushed against the bottom.

  • Jacques-Alexandre-Cesar Charles 1746-1823 and Nicolas Louis Robert
    Val Jiwa

    Record Breakers In Hotair Balloon Industry On the 27th of August 1783 Jacques-Alexander-Cesar Charles, the French inventor launched a hydrogen balloon. He then went on to design and build a larger hydrogen balloon with the help of two engineering brothers Anne-Jean and Marie-Noel Robert. They included in it most of the…