Photos

The Masai of east Africa live as nomads in a harsh, often dry land, where they depend on their cattle for sustenance. The land, as in this image, is often overgrazed, though the extent that the Masai are at fault is disputed.

The Masai appear to be relatively successful at maintaining their traditions in the face of the onslaught of the modern world, though the challenges are no doubt increasing. I met one man, the leader of his clan, who truly kept one foot in the developed world and one where his roots lay. He had previously had a good 9-to-5 job in the city, but had left it to return to the bush. He asked if our group had any newsmagazines we no longer wanted (Time, Newsweek, The Economist, etc.) so that he could keep up with what was happening in that other world. In a few weeks, he told us, he would make a trip to Los Angeles in connection with a film documentary he had agreed to participate in.