The third Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival in Amboseli, Kajiado County, is a spectacle of colour, rhythm, and cultural pride, a celebration of heritage that has united the Samburu, Maasai, and Elchamus (Njemps) communities under one cultural banner.
Among the many highlights, one playful moment stole the show. Festival-goers at the Cultural and Tourism Festival in Amboseli, Kajiado County, are taking up Samburu Governor Jonathan Lati Lelelit’s lighthearted challenge to “dress the Maa Cultural way.”
Inspired by the rich cultural heritage of the Samburu, Maasai, and Njemps communities, the crowd has turned the tables, now asking the big question: Who wore it best? Is it Governor Lati Lelelit of Samburu, Narok’s Patrick Ole Ntutu, or the host himself, Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku?
But beneath the laughter and bright beadwork, the festival carried a deeper message. For the three pastoralist communities, this annual celebration has become more than a showcase of dance, attire, and tourism; it is a powerful platform for unity and dialogue.
Over the past two editions held in Narok in 2023 and Samburu in 2024, the Maa Festival has evolved into a space where leaders and citizens address long-standing issues, from historical land injustices, cultural preservation, wildlife conservation, representation and sustainable livelihoods.
The festival’s mix of festivity and advocacy for inclusion reflects the communities’ determination to keep their traditions alive while pushing for social and economic progress.
