Most of my day has been reading the history of development projects in Tanzanian Maasailand in the 20th century (Once Intrepid Warriors by anthropologist Dorothy Hodgeson). It isn’t encouraging, but it is informative. Unfortunately, “development” goals seem to have been almost exclusively determined by the colonial powers, or after independence, by non-Maasai tribes with little regard for the pastoralist way of life. The few Western advocates for the Maasai were often belittled or disregarded. Thus, development has left the Maasai with great mistrust of the government who tax heavily and produce little benefit. All along, they were losing land to European settlers and non-Maasai agriculturalist tribes and cut off from permanent water holes for their cattle. A mostly sad story with just a few glimmers of hope.
I shift my work day based on the weather, so that Anya can get out. We knew we had morning sun from the weather forecast, so we found the thrift store and a few other stores. Anya now has a soccer ball (on sale for $8) to practice her juggling. We walked home as the dark clouds were rolling in.
This evening, Anya was invited to a movie, The Theory of Everything, about Steven Hawking. So she is glad to have a friend to do something with and go to a movie that she was hoping to see. I sent her off with 200 Kroner for the 150 Kroner movie (just under $20, but a good investment in making friends).
In case you’re curious, 26 people viewed yesterday’s blog. I don’t know who or where, but I do know that there seems to be a developing pattern that Sunday is the lowest viewing days with only about 6 readers. I know that this includes the grandparents, so they can keep in touch with Anya’s life.
Back to more Maasai “development” history.