The Maasai Cricket Warriors - In Focus - The Atlantic

The Maasai Cricket Warriors

Mar 12, 2012 | 2

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In Kenya, a group of young Maasai warriors from the Laikipia region formed a cricket team with big hopes: to promote healthy living, to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS and women's issues, and ultimately to become role models in their community and ambassadors for both the Maasai and Kenya. The Maasai Cricket Warriors have been training hard, having recently left their village for the city of Mombasa to attend the Legends Cricket Nursery for further coaching. Their next goal is to travel to South Africa to take part in the Last Man Stands World Championships. The team has an open invitation and is now raising funds to make the trip. [17 photos]

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A player in the Maasai Warriors cricket team is silhouetted as he plays cricket on the beach in Mombasa, Kenya, on March 6, 2012. The team is made up of Maasai warriors from the Laikipia region of Kenya. The players are aiming to be role models in their communities where they are actively campaigning for the rights of women. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images)

A player in the Maasai Warriors cricket team is silhouetted as he plays cricket on the beach in Mombasa, Kenya, on March 6, 2012. The team is made up of Maasai warriors from the Laikipia region of Kenya. The players are aiming to be role models in their communities where they are actively campaigning for the rights of women. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images)

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Members of the Maasai Warriors cricket team take part in a practice session on the beach in Mombasa, on March 6, 2012. On the right is team captain Nissan Jonathan Ole Meshami. Meshami was born in 1986 in a remote village in the Rift Valley area of Kenya, the youngest in a family of nine children. Unable to attend school, he helped his family tend their herds of goats and sheep. "I mastered the art of throwing a spear at a very early age and I also became good at throwing stones long distances. The aim of the spear was never to harm or hurt any wildlife, but rather as a protection if ever I had found myself in a one-on-one situation having to fight for my own life." (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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The Maasai Warriors cricket team warm up before exercises on the beach in Mombasa, on March 6, 2012. Through playing and being involved in cricket activities in regional communities they are trying to promote healthier lifestyles and spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS amongst tribal youth. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Players in the Maasai Warriors cricket team practice on the beach in Mombasa, on March 6, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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The Maasai Warriors cricket team are silhouetted as they take part in a practice session on the beach in Mombasa, on March 6, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Members of the Maasai Warriors cricket team hold up a bat on the beach in Mombasa, on March 6, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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The Maasai Warriors cricket practice at sunset on a Mombasa beach in southeast Kenya, on March 6, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A bowler in the Maasai Warriors cricket team throws the ball during practice on a cricket grounds in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Maasai Warriors cricket players practice at a cricket grounds in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A batsman on the Maasai Warriors cricket team smiles during practice in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A member of the Maasai Warriors cricket team, during practice in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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One of the Maasai Warriors cricket team members adjusts his gloves during practice in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A bowler for the Maasai Warriors cricket team throws the ball in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Players on the Maasai Warriors cricket team in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A fielder in the Maasai Warriors cricket team catches the ball during practice at a cricket grounds in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Players on the Maasai Warriors cricket team are pictured during practice in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Nissan Jonathan Ole Meshami, captain of the Maasai Warriors cricket team, bowls during practice in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. The team have been invited to play in the Last Man Stands Twenty20 Championship in Cape Town, South Africa, from March 31 - April 7. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Members of the Maasai Warriors cricket team take part in a practice session on the beach in Mombasa, on March 6, 2012. On the right is team captain Nissan Jonathan Ole Meshami. Meshami was born in 1986 in a remote village in the Rift Valley area of Kenya, the youngest in a family of nine children. Unable to attend school, he helped his family tend their herds of goats and sheep. "I mastered the art of throwing a spear at a very early age and I also became good at throwing stones long distances. The aim of the spear was never to harm or hurt any wildlife, but rather as a protection if ever I had found myself in a one-on-one situation having to fight for my own life." (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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The Maasai Warriors cricket team warm up before exercises on the beach in Mombasa, on March 6, 2012. Through playing and being involved in cricket activities in regional communities they are trying to promote healthier lifestyles and spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS amongst tribal youth. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Players in the Maasai Warriors cricket team practice on the beach in Mombasa, on March 6, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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The Maasai Warriors cricket team are silhouetted as they take part in a practice session on the beach in Mombasa, on March 6, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Members of the Maasai Warriors cricket team hold up a bat on the beach in Mombasa, on March 6, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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The Maasai Warriors cricket practice at sunset on a Mombasa beach in southeast Kenya, on March 6, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A bowler in the Maasai Warriors cricket team throws the ball during practice on a cricket grounds in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Maasai Warriors cricket players practice at a cricket grounds in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A batsman on the Maasai Warriors cricket team smiles during practice in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A member of the Maasai Warriors cricket team, during practice in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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One of the Maasai Warriors cricket team members adjusts his gloves during practice in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A bowler for the Maasai Warriors cricket team throws the ball in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Players on the Maasai Warriors cricket team in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A fielder in the Maasai Warriors cricket team catches the ball during practice at a cricket grounds in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Players on the Maasai Warriors cricket team are pictured during practice in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Nissan Jonathan Ole Meshami, captain of the Maasai Warriors cricket team, bowls during practice in Mombasa, on March 5, 2012. The team have been invited to play in the Last Man Stands Twenty20 Championship in Cape Town, South Africa, from March 31 - April 7. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images) #

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The Maasai Cricket Warriors need your help to get the team to Cape Town to compete in the Last Man Stands Cricket World Championships. 
Support their fundraiser to get them to South Africa. 
Time is running out - only 18 days to go...Make a donation now!!!
www.justgiving.com/MaasaiCrick...
Ashe o'leng (Maasai) / Thank you!!

via theatlantic.com