Dear MEL Topic Readers,
At Kenya’s ‘Maasai Olympics’, women run to bridge the gender gap
The Maasai people are an ethnic group inhabiting Kenya and northern Tanzania. They have traditionally viewed the killing of lions, Olamayio, as a rite of passage to prove their skills. Nowadays though, young people take part in the Massai Olympics instead, which include the 100-meter dash to 5k run. Women, who had been traditionally regarded and treated as nothing more than housewives, are now also participating in the 100 and 1,500-meter races. The participants of the competitions still run on the grass like they used to but with their shoes on. The event seems to be giving young women the chance to make a social appearance and prove their athletic competence. The altered Olamayio also has saved the lives of lions, and the population of roaming lions in the Amboseli ecosystem has increased over tenfold in the last two decades. Win-win for all.
Read the article and learn how Maasai women enjoy participating in the Maasai Olympics.
https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2024/12/15/at-kenyas-maasai-olympics-women-run-to-bridge-the-gender-gap
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