Naesa kupanda miti? When Ogiek people climb trees, Mau forest listens.
(Baraka Agricultural college- Molo - Kenya, 24 January 2020- Elisa B. & Marco B.)
At 9 o’clock in the morning, the Winter School team left Baraka College heading to Mariashoni, where the Ogiek community lives. The road from the college to the final destination passed through the city of Nakuru from where, after 40 kilometers, the team reached a small city on the slopes of Mau Forest (Elburgon). To finally reach the village of Mariashoni, others 15 km of a very bumpy road had to be tackled by the Baraka’s college super-bus. Challenge accepted, the bus did a great job overcoming the huge holes on that trail. After 2 hours, the Winter School Team finally reached the Ogiek community’s home.
Ogiek people are a community of bee-keepers and hunters living near Mau Forest and Mont Elgon in Kenya. They are divided into groups, named “kop”, made up of lineages (30-50 members for each group). Nowadays, the total population of this tribe, living in the central Rift Valley, counts around 20000 members; 9000 of them are living in the Mariashoni area. In the former times, they used to move following bees paths, while now, with the introduction of farming, they have settled down nearby Mariashoni village. The main products of these communities, such as food and medicines, derives from honey, which Ogiek bee-keepers patiently collect from beehives they have previously placed above the trees.
After 10 minutes driving from the village, the participants of the Winter School find Lesingo, a member of the Ogiek community, who welcomes them with his wise look at the entrance of the Kiptunga zone of Mau forest (3000m above sea level), divided from Narok zone by the road. Following him across the trees the group started to observe the local and traditional method of bee-keeping: looking up through the leaves, it is possible to see the traditional beehives, made of wood, laying above the branches. Even if the weather is not so nice, the conditions needed to find honey are good, so Lesingo started climbing without protections and ropes carrying an old leather bag on the shoulders to collect it. Using the smoke of the fire made in few minutes by him with the cedar wood, and keeping it in a ball made of nguvungriet (a green local plant) he drives out the bees from the beehives and starts collecting the honey. He threw the darker part of the beehive to the ground from where the group of the Winter School could taste it: it was delicious, but the best part had to come. He finally came down bringing with him a piece of the beehive full of clear, white and sweet honey. It tasted like heaven.
After a fast trial with Lesingo’s bow and arrows, the group went back to the bus ready to go to Mariashoni.
There the community showed to the team the shop where they can buy some local honey after receiving an explanation on how it is processed following the traditional method. Finally lunch at the Slow Food Guest House where the typical Kenyan food was served. The hospitality as usual was always one of the best and the team could take some time to take pictures together with some members of the local community.
And then, had the chance to see the modern beehives! After a fast tour to the local radio (spreading in 100 km zone around Mariashoni) where Lesingo’s daughter is conducting a music program, Slow Food Winter School group headed right to the modern beehives: unfortunately, this kind of hives is still not working due to the fact that the temperature is to cold to allow the bees to live there (they prefer sun and sea).
Rescued Ruth’s smartphone in the forest, the group sadly said goodbye to the beloved Simona and Paola who were heading back to Nairobi to reach Italy and have a good pizza. The day was over and the Winter School team went back, tired but happy, to the campus.
(Title translation from Swahili "Naesa kupanda miti?": Can I climb the trees?)
Ogiek people are a community of bee-keepers and hunters living near Mau Forest and Mont Elgon in Kenya. They are divided into groups, named “kop”, made up of lineages (30-50 members for each group). Nowadays, the total population of this tribe, living in the central Rift Valley, counts around 20000 members; 9000 of them are living in the Mariashoni area. In the former times, they used to move following bees paths, while now, with the introduction of farming, they have settled down nearby Mariashoni village. The main products of these communities, such as food and medicines, derives from honey, which Ogiek bee-keepers patiently collect from beehives they have previously placed above the trees.
After 10 minutes driving from the village, the participants of the Winter School find Lesingo, a member of the Ogiek community, who welcomes them with his wise look at the entrance of the Kiptunga zone of Mau forest (3000m above sea level), divided from Narok zone by the road. Following him across the trees the group started to observe the local and traditional method of bee-keeping: looking up through the leaves, it is possible to see the traditional beehives, made of wood, laying above the branches. Even if the weather is not so nice, the conditions needed to find honey are good, so Lesingo started climbing without protections and ropes carrying an old leather bag on the shoulders to collect it. Using the smoke of the fire made in few minutes by him with the cedar wood, and keeping it in a ball made of nguvungriet (a green local plant) he drives out the bees from the beehives and starts collecting the honey. He threw the darker part of the beehive to the ground from where the group of the Winter School could taste it: it was delicious, but the best part had to come. He finally came down bringing with him a piece of the beehive full of clear, white and sweet honey. It tasted like heaven.
After a fast trial with Lesingo’s bow and arrows, the group went back to the bus ready to go to Mariashoni.
There the community showed to the team the shop where they can buy some local honey after receiving an explanation on how it is processed following the traditional method. Finally lunch at the Slow Food Guest House where the typical Kenyan food was served. The hospitality as usual was always one of the best and the team could take some time to take pictures together with some members of the local community.
And then, had the chance to see the modern beehives! After a fast tour to the local radio (spreading in 100 km zone around Mariashoni) where Lesingo’s daughter is conducting a music program, Slow Food Winter School group headed right to the modern beehives: unfortunately, this kind of hives is still not working due to the fact that the temperature is to cold to allow the bees to live there (they prefer sun and sea).
Rescued Ruth’s smartphone in the forest, the group sadly said goodbye to the beloved Simona and Paola who were heading back to Nairobi to reach Italy and have a good pizza. The day was over and the Winter School team went back, tired but happy, to the campus.
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