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Gasara Winn: Protector of The Boni Forest (Boni community)

Shujaa Stories2020

National Museums of Kenya

National Museums of Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya

Gasara Winn was a legendary hunter among the Aweer. But who are the Aweer? The Aweer are indigenous forest dwellers who inhabit the Boni National Reserve situated in Garissa County in the North-Eastern region of Kenya. The forest is an indigenous open canopy and part of the Northern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic. It harbours densities of plant species that are among the highest in the world and it has been declared a biodiversity hotspot. Boni forest is also renowned for its large herds of elephants.

The Aweer diet traditionally consisted of up to 70% plant-based foods, including bush berries, nuts, tubers and melons gathered primarily by women. The remaining 30% was meat, hunted by the men, using poisoned arrows and spears. In the present day, however, the Aweer practice shifting cultivation.

The Aweer do not have a paramount leader, decisions are made by consensus. The division of labor among Aweer is based on traditional gender roles and are very distinct and rarely overlap. The roles are based on daily survival needs, encouraging the most efficient utilization of available skills and resources between the genders.

The most important ingredient in the Aweer's diet is honey, which is tracked down with the help of Mirsi bird, commonly described as honey guides. The birds feed on wax and bee larvae. The Aweer and the Mirsi bird have developed a symbiotic relationship over time. Mirsi birds lead hunters to trees concealing hives and alert them by making a specific call. In return the hunter opens the hive allowing the bird to eat.

The legendary Gasara Winn was born into the Weritama clan of the Aweer. He grew into a brilliant young boy. Through apprenticeship he learned hunting skills at an early age and would roam the forest without fear. Through his adventurers, he learned about the forest’s rich biodiversity. While still a young boy he befriended the mythical Mirsi bird, a honey guide which led him to the best hives. The Mirsi he befriended also acted as his protector, warning Gasara of any danger as he explored the forest.

According to legend, Gasara was a protector and the first conservationist of the Boni forest. He lived deep in the forest, caring for it and its wildlife. It is said that Gasara only hunted to cull extra animals and weed out extra plants to maintain ecological balance. When he became an adult, Gasara was a hunter and great lover of meat. He once used poisoned arrows to kill a raging bull elephant that had become a nuisance to his people and ate it all by himself.

Today, the Aweer are faced with dilemmas of modernity, dwindling wildlife resources and invasion of ‘foreign cultural practices!’ They long for the time of Gasara Winn who protected their forest.

Bonus Information
The Boni National Reserve is situated in Garissa County in the North-Eastern region of Kenya. The Boni Forest is named after the reserve. The forest is an indigenous open canopy and part of the Northern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic. It hourbours densities of plant species that are among the highest in the world, the forest has been declared a biodiversity hotspot. It is also renowned for its large herds of elephants.

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  • Title: Gasara Winn: Protector of The Boni Forest (Boni community)
  • Creator: Shujaa Stories
  • Date Created: 2020
  • Location: Kenya
  • Rights: Shujaa Stories in collaboration with Nature Kenya and the National Museums of Kenya
  • Research statement: Research was undertaken through on ground field work in Samburu and Marsabit (for Gabbra, Samburu, Rendille, Saakuye, Dasanach, Elmolo, Waayu a.k.a Waata, and Burji superheroes/heroines), Embu and Tharaka (for Aembu, Tharaka, Ameru and Mbeere superheroes/heroines) and Taita-Taveta/Voi (for Taveta superheroes/heroines) capturing all information about the heroes from the 30 selected ethnic groups/communities by Museum’s research team.
  • Community: Boni
  • About Shujaa Stories: This is a Kenyan superhero display of the country’s pre-independence legends who fought for their communities’ land, freedom and spiritual well-being; and are revered by their communities to date. Conceptualized in 2017, the idea was the brain-child of Masidza Sande Galavu (1993-2020) who was a Creative Director and co-founder at Shujaa Stories and Tatu Creatives in Nairobi. ‘Shujaa’ is a Swahili word that means brave or courageous. It also refers to someone who is a hero. Shujaa Stories made its public debut with an exhibition at the Nairobi National Museum in 2018. It shined light on 28 of Kenya’s greatest heroes and heroines. Each story was coupled with a bonus text on conservation related to the heritage sites surrounding where these legends once lived. In 2020, supported by National Museums of Kenya and Google Arts and Culture, Shujaa Stories Ltd completed over 30 new shujaas that cut across the major and marginalized Kenyan communities. Kenya is rich in history and culture. Some of this richness has been brought out in our books, museums and in theatre. But there is one major section of our history that has been left out, especially to the younger generation of Kenyans, which are our pre-independence legendary heroes. Some of these heroes are known well beyond their communities due to the respect they managed to garner across the region. Many of them have a well-developed and sophisticated folklore which embodies their history, traditions, morals, worldview and wisdom. The design language chosen for the entire exhibition is animated illustrations that seek to bring out the superhero character of each shujaa.
National Museums of Kenya

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