Red Soil - Chapter One
Colonial Legacy in Maasai Land
“Every time a cow crossed into colonial settlers’ lands, the community would be punished by taking more of their lands and animals”, John Kisio, 82 years.
Following one of many historical injustices that affected Kenya during the colonial British rule, Red Soil is a documentary photography project that utilises black and white digital images, to showcase the contemporary effects of that period on the Maasai people.
Uprooted into different reserves, this indigenous population lost its freedom of movement to pursue it’s semi-nomadic lifestyle.
The project focuses on Maasai communities north of the Great Rift Valley, where people are fenced off from accessing grabbed ancestral lands. Large-scale ranches and farms, wildlife conservancies and government settlement schemes surround those communities.
Population pressure, drought and bad governance compound the everyday life of a tribe that strives to maintain its traditional ways. Resulting poverty and insecurity are pushing some community members into less lucrative alternative livelihoods. A tribe once known for its adaptability and vast influence across borders, is now fragmented.
The Maasai live in a constant state of negative peace.
Red more about the story by navigating to the "Written Word" page.
(This story was produced as my final ICP DOC program 2022 student project).
Read More“Every time a cow crossed into colonial settlers’ lands, the community would be punished by taking more of their lands and animals”, John Kisio, 82 years.
Following one of many historical injustices that affected Kenya during the colonial British rule, Red Soil is a documentary photography project that utilises black and white digital images, to showcase the contemporary effects of that period on the Maasai people.
Uprooted into different reserves, this indigenous population lost its freedom of movement to pursue it’s semi-nomadic lifestyle.
The project focuses on Maasai communities north of the Great Rift Valley, where people are fenced off from accessing grabbed ancestral lands. Large-scale ranches and farms, wildlife conservancies and government settlement schemes surround those communities.
Population pressure, drought and bad governance compound the everyday life of a tribe that strives to maintain its traditional ways. Resulting poverty and insecurity are pushing some community members into less lucrative alternative livelihoods. A tribe once known for its adaptability and vast influence across borders, is now fragmented.
The Maasai live in a constant state of negative peace.
Red more about the story by navigating to the "Written Word" page.
(This story was produced as my final ICP DOC program 2022 student project).
