Wisdom From the Maasai Elders

We asked 5 Maasai elders to share their learnings in life with the younger generation of the world, and here’s what they had to share:

For 58-year-old Maasai elder Lobodlo, learning and knowledge are a medium for people to get what they want. He shared that “There are two kinds of learning- one that you learn in school, and one that you learn from your familial bonds, and both are equally important.”

64-year-old Juru Lahita’s life lesson is to have discipline in life. He shared, “When I was 47 years old, I learned that one has to learn the best technique, increase discipline and acquire education. Otherwise, the community would perish. Growing up, as Maasai warriors we would attack other communities’ cows and take them as our own. I lost my brother to one such fight, as he went against my father’s advice. It changed my life. My father advised me to leave robbery. He promoted in us the need to have discipline. If you have discipline, you get directives from varied people or communities. This will help you be successful. A child who is well educated or well raised by parents about the right and wrong in the world will have discipline.”

Kititoei believes that "If you don’t lose direction, you can always bring the profit home. Education can show you unseen things. But if you learn a lot and do not come back to help your community that means you have lost your direction. Morans were thieves, but now they are not.''

John Sandamuliza’s life lesson is guided by the Maasai proverb, “Respect can build a mountain.” He explains, “Mountains don’t move. If you earn someone’s respect. You create an immovable place for yourself in them and that can help build so much happiness.”

100-year-old Naitapuaki’s advice to the younger generation is to have discipline and love in life with each other. “Without love, there is no discipline.”