Moran, a Maasai warrior

A Maasai warrior with his walking stick. Only warriors are allowed to wear the 'Oldeka', the long warrior hair which consists of cotton threads that are braided into the top hair. The Maasai’s unique hair is a living symbol of their tradition and culture. By wearing plaits, it proves the individual is a true Morani sticking to their own traditions. The warriors’ ‘manes’ symbolise the African lion’s strength and masculine beauty, which is a great source of pride and confidence to the Maasai men.

Stephanie Fuchs is a 34-year-old conservationist from Germany, residing in Tanzania. Her work is focused on protecting and preserving the rich Maasai culture. She has started several projects to help the Maasai adapt to an ever-changing environment by teaching them about land mAnnagement, conservation, family planning, the importance of education, and menstrual hygiene.

In the third edition of the Wise Wall Project, we are collaborating with the culturally rich and one of the oldest communitys in the world, the Maasai community, in Arusha, Tanzania, in partnership with Vikram Solar Ltd., Vijana Inspiring Foundation, Lions Club of Dar es Salaam and Arusha City, and Google Arts and Culture. Along with building an on-ground community centre and museum for the community, we are bringing an exclusive insight into the life, lifestyle and learnings from this inspiring community.

The Wise Wall Project is an initiative of Project FUEL that aims to document, design and strengthen the wisdom of rural communities and marginalised villages using art and community outreach programmes. The arts lead the way to raise support for the challenges these villages face today like migration, quality education and access to basic amenities like water and roads.