Laikipia Highland Games

I was supposed to put this up a while ago, but as its nearly time for the next annual Highland Games i though i would just put it up anyway. This is an amazing event put together by Kuki Gallmann. It includes all the communities around the conservancy who usually fight and go to battle with each over things like who owns which cows and which bit of grazing. Etc.  So this is a time when they can all meet in a different environment and play sports together. It is attended by hundreds of people from all around Laikipia. From the richer land owners to the children from an orphanage down the road.

Embassies and ambassadors from all over the words were invites. Kyle and I had no idea quite how many would be coming and realised the security kuki was employing was actually quite important. Especially when the entire Israeli ambassadors family arrived in a convoy with 16 people including all his body guards, ironically they were staying in the furthest part of the conservancy (and not the safest) which took them an hour to get to every night, getting stuck dozens of times on their way, much to their main body guards horror. They also didnt have ANY phone signal for miles. Not the best time to be staying there when one of the biggest terrorists attacks in the country was going on (west gate).  Another security moment happened when kyle being his cheery self offered to escort the US Ambassador to his tent in the dark and rain when they arrived, jumping into the car, the driver and ambassador jumped and were a little concerned. Once in the car the driver locked it, and kyle realised there were about 6 cameras on him and a stream through to Washington DC where he was quickly fired security questions by the Ambassadors body guard.

A part from the security, the event was beautiful and colourful; flags flying around the fields, everyone came in their tribal dress and performed their traditional dances and songs for the group of spectators and visitors. My favourite image I loved is of a Samburu Warrior with tinsel and fake flowers in their hair, how times have changed from their traditional decorating of red ochre and a feather. 

I tried my best to get a photo without him noticing

And literally everyone had mobile and taking photos with it. In a place where people live on very little money and struggle to support a family, they all seem to have an up to date colour-touch screen phone that gets the onto facebook.

The Samburu

Pokot women 

The Turkana tribe dancing 

There was running and athletic races, football matches, volleyball matches, long jump, and our favourite the javelin! As most of the guys were pretty amazing spear throwers it was amazing to see how far they could throw their javelin. When the Pokot team arrived at the star f this one they must have almost doubled everyone else’s go, almost hitting the group of Italian tourists who thought it was a good idea to walk in front of the track,

Although it was very eventful and I met so many interesting I think my favourite moment was when the ‘VIP tent’, especially made up for the ‘Muzungus’.  (With reserved printed on them all and a ribbon to separate it from the rest of the croud, ) was stampeded by all the local children and families when the procession took place.  Im so glad that boundary was broken it changed the whole feel of the event. 

So happy, with her lollipop watching acrobats

We had an amazing performance by Sveva and Kukis pokot acrobats. These guys have an amazing story that I have mentioned before. 

Pokot Acrobats

The Acrobats again

The sarakasi Trust did an amazing performance of acrobats. But my favourite were the ‘slum drummers’ A bit like the ‘Stomp’ Group. They made all their drums out of things from the slums in Nairobi and created one of the best African drum sessions I have heard. They music was totally original and they looked awesome! 

The Slum Drummers