Kakuta Ole Maimai Hamisi

My name is Kakuta Ole Maimai Hamisi. I was born and raised in the Maasai society, a culturally independent, pastoral tribe near Mount Kilimanjaro in East Africa. During my early childhood, I was trained to become a cow herder and a warrior. In 1989, after I finished high school, my parents urged me to complete my traditional Maasai education, and out of respect for my elders and our traditions, I did so. I was initiated in the traditional way and became a moran, a warrior. In the course of this initiation, I participated in lion hunts and other traditional rituals and ceremonies. This tribal system of education deepened my understanding both of myself and my Maasai heritage.

At the end of 1995 I decided to further my education abroad. After two years of study at the Evergreen State College, I volunteered to work as an intern and assistant curator for the Seattle Art Museum. I found many things that I didn't like about the collection process that was conducted by scholars in the nineteen- seventies. I did not see recognition of the artists, and I did not see presentations explaining the meaning of the jewelry. I felt very distanced from the ornaments that were exhibited. From that standpoint, I proposed that the museum sponsor me to go back and compile a collection, a legitimate collection that recognizes the people who made the art. I returned to my homeland and asked members of my community to assemble a collection. We decided to use the proceeds given to me by the museum to build a local primary school, which is known as the Merrueschi Primary School. This is what brought about these collections.

Visit Kakuta's website at www.maasai-infoline.org