While I was a consultant at Saint Constantine International School in Arusha, my friend Maggie (Onaipanoi = Maasai name) was informed that her uncle Birikaa was visiting one of his bomas (he has 150 wives)where some of his wives live, close to Tarangire National Park. He invited us to stay a couple of days (one never knows how long that is) in the boma.

We were invited in a hut made of cow dung, which was divided in 2 sleeping parts and 1 living part. The women were instructed to give us tea and fresh milk from the cows, a goat was slaughtered and prepared in our honor. Normally it is not allowed for a woman to attend, but after the slaughter was over one of Birikaas sons, Mepukori, called me and I was allowed to take photos. They were very proud to show me that it is their custom to drink the blood and eat the testicles. After the goat was cleaned, I went back to join Maggie and the ladies, while the moranis in the meantime prepared the goat. I have never, ever in my life had such good liver, they were made on the fire with herbs from the bush, they were delicious.

A calve was borne, the men pulled it out of the cow and then one of them sucked its mouth to take the fluids out, so it can breathe, after that it is the women who take over and make sure that the calve is drinking from the mother. It is also a womans job to get the cows back in the coral and milk them.

The small thing I have in my hand is a porcupine, which had made itself at home in the hut.

The days that we spent in the boma with all the men, women and children who came to greet us, walking many many kilometers, were very special to me. The Maasai are very kind and friendly people, they do not have our luxuries, but they share everything.