May Future Salon with Kenyan Maasai Warrior and Chief

In a time of accelerating change it is of great importance to decide which of our traditions we will keep and which ones we throw overboard as not fitting into our new environment. It is also really important to understand others in our global community, to account for cultural differences, and find ways to ease people into this changing environment.

We are really fortunate to host Kenyan Maasai tribal warrior and chief Salaton Ole’ Ntutu to shed some light on these questions.

Thursday 22nd of May 6-7pm networking 7-9pm talk. Please RVSP: http://snurl.com/284i3 

Salaton Ole’ Ntutu is a shaman from the nomadic Maasai tribe, where he trained in the age-old tradition to become a skilled warrior who can survive among wild animals in the harsh and challenging African Savanna.  Salaton spent seven years in the African bush, from the age of 14, surviving with only a blanket and a spear.  He now trains young warriors to carry on the Maasai tradition, while looking after his village. He continues to live in the traditional ways of his proud and fascinating people, including always wearing the traditional attire of the Maasai, carrying hand-made weapons for hunting and self-defense against buffalo, lions, and other aggressive wildlife, eating traditional foods, living in a hut of sticks and dung, herding cattle and goats, and so on.

In addition to leading a village, Salaton works on social and economic issues pertaining to his tribe. He built a rescue shelter to protect young girls from the common, but illegal, practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and to promote the idea of alternative rites of passage. He is also involved in education about HIV/AIDS and monogamy, and in health and sanitation projects. He supports widows in his tribe who would otherwise find it very difficult to support themselves.  Through his tremendous knowledge of African wildlife, he has contributed significantly towards Kenya’s community and tourist industry. He also helps to facilitate the in-country work of the Asante Africa Foundation, which builds and equips schools, and sponsors secondary education in Kenya and in neighboring Tanzania.

Salaton is in the United States to forge a link between his tribal community and ours. He hopes to educate us on the ways of his people, and to educate his own people on sustainable development and conservation processes of land used to ensure protection of future generations. During his visit, Salaton is  speaking to youth and adults in the U.S. about his culture and background, including traditions, rites of passage, and the life of a warrior.  He will speak to us and will answer questions about these and related topics. 

This Future Salon is co-sponsored by the
Asante Africa Foundation
Asante Africa is a non-profit organization in the San Francisco Bay Area, dedicated to providing educational services to the children and people of Kenya and Tanzania. The organization is devoted to facilitating and strengthening health and education through true partnerships with African communities. For more details, visit www.asanteafrica.org.
Contact:  Erna Grasz   +1 925-367-5586; egrasz(at)asanteafrica.org

Future Salons have the following structure: 6-7pm is networking with light refreshments proudly sponsored by SAP; 7-9+pm is the presentation followed by questions and discussion. SAP Labs North America, Building D, Room Southern Cross or Cafeteria depending on number of RSVPs. SAP is located at 3410 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304[map]. Free and open to the public. Please spread the word and invite others, but be sure to RSVP so we know how many people to expect.  This event will be appropriate and interesting for school-age children, who are welcome to join us. Please RSVP: http://snurl.com/284i3

If you can't join in person we will webcast the event and tape it too. Point your Quicktime viewer to the following address: rtsp://207.105.30.90/salon.sdp