A Make-shift classroom (2020)Project FUEL
Counting with hands
You may know your “un, deux, trois” from your “one, two, three”. But do you know your “nabo”, “are” and “uni”?
This is how the Maasai members count. Here, they demonstrate how to count with your fingers like a Maasai.
Nabo: One (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL
Nabo: One
One is called Nabo.
Are: Two (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL
Are: Two
Are is known as two. It is depicted with two fingers close together, with a slight movement back and forth.
Uni: Three (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL
Uni: Three
The Maasai call three as Uni.
On'gwan: Four (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL
On' gwan: Four
Four in Maa language is known as On' gwan which is denoted as crossed fingers.
Imiet: Five (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL
Imiet: Five
Imiet or five is a fistful with the thumb closed inside of the fist.
Ille: Six (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL
Ille: Six
Six in Maa language is known as Ille is a gesture or a click movement using the two fingers.
NaapishAnna: Seven (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL
NaapishAnna: Seven
The Maasai call seven as NaapishAnna.
Isiet: Eight (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL
Isiet: Eight
Eight in Maa language is knwon as Isiet.
Naaudo: Nine (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL
Naaudo: Nine
Nine is Naaudo.
Tomon: Ten (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL
Tomon: Ten
Lastly, Tomon is ten.
Project FUEL would like to thank the Maasai community in the Losimingori village of Arusha, Tanzania for opening their hearts and home to this research.
This exhibit is part of the Wise Wall Project, an initiative of Project FUEL, to document, design, and strengthen the wisdom of rural communities and marginalized villages using art and community outreach programs. In the third edition of this project, we collaborated with the Maasai, in Arusha, Tanzania, to build an on-ground community centre for the people and bring an exclusive insight into the life, lifestyle, and learnings of this inspiring community.
Photography: Vibhor Yadav, Siddharth Govindan
Wall Murals: Poornima Sukumar
Canvas Art: Advithi Emmi
Cultural Consultant and Translators: Kaay Ndoika Lengima, Elisha Olchakai Kirumui and Lemali Ndoika
Research, Interviews and Curation: Project FUEL
Project Partners: Vijana Inspiring Foundation, Vikram Solar Ltd., Lions Club of Dar es Salaam and Arusha, Google Arts & Culture
