Maasai Man Kills Lion To Prove Manhood, Lion Haunts Man To Prove Point
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Kenya - For Robert Njeri, killing a lion barehanded was the final obstacle to his full initiation into manhood. In the Maasai tradition, a man must overpower the proverbial “king of the jungle” with pure brawn. Any use of weaponry renders the kill void. After camping in the broad savannah for 3 days, Njeri spotted an adult male, isolated from his pride. After regarding each other for what seemed like hours, they charged at one another and initiated brutal combat.
Using a technique borrowed from his cousin who successfully completed olamayio, the traditional name for the lion hunt, Njeri reached his hand into the lion’s throat as the creature lunged for him and ripped out his tongue. The powerful feline writhed in pain momentarily, and drew his last mighty breath. Carrying his prize back into his village in the lush plains of Kenya’s northern region, Robert was heralded with cheers and ululations from family and neighbors. Bare-chested bachelorettes flung their breasts to and fro as he strode past them, some tapping him playfully on the back as he hefted the mighty simba on his shoulders. He dropped his prize at the feet of the village elder.
“Njeri is now a man,” declared elder Kayanja. “He has proven he is strong, skillful and stealthy. This could only be proved out by defeating the most strong, skillful and stealthy being in the world; the mighty lion!”
Inside, Robert burst with pride, but in Maasai tradition, he was required to show no emotion displaying only humility. His father beamed on with pleasure, and his sisters and mother ululated in admiration. Finally, his initiation was complete. As a reward was to be visited that night by a young lady he had been courting for several months now.
However when darkness fell, a different visitor appeared in Robert’s hut.
“Hello, Robert,” said a deep voice.
“Who is that?” cried Robert.
“It’s me, Victor. The lion you killed today.”
Robert was visibly shaken
“What are you doing here? Where are you? I can’t see you!”
Victor only laughed.
“I am everywhere you go now,” he replied. “Everywhere you go, every step you take, I’ll be haunting you.”
Robert demanded to know why Victor was doing this to him. He was only trying to become a man, he explained.
“And I was only on my way to the watering hole to get a drink…and then here you came, ripping out my tongue.” Victor sighed. “It was really uncalled for.”
Victor further explained that he would be making appearances in the most inconvenient moments of Robert’s life, since he had inconvenienced him so badly.
“Every time you take a dump, every time you kiss your lady, every time you go into a corner to ‘get to know yourself better’, just remember I’ll be there too, smelling you. I won’t touch you; I’m only going to smell you.”
After describing the exchange to the village’s soothsayer, it has not been decided if Njeri will need to re-do his olamayio. He has not taken a dump or flirted with a girl in weeks…and what kind of a man does that?
