Decolonizing Maasai History

In this open access book, Maasai leader and activist Meitamei Dapash teams with historian Mary Poole to offer a new version of Maasai history based on Maasai memory and concerns. Through their rich and detailed narrative, we learn not only about the history of the Maasai as they understand it, but also about the relations between politics and Western history; about the untold history of Kenya both pre- and post-nationhood; about why the creation of nation-states is not synonymous with liberation; and about how and why Indigenous approaches to land obstruct global processes of resource extraction. All of this finds wider resonances that upend received narratives of post-“independence” Africa and offer new opportunities for the emancipation of Indigenous communities from neo-colonial regimes the world over.The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the Bloomsbury Open Collections Library Collective.

In this outstanding book, the story of the Maasai is told from the perspective of the social insider. The fascinating book provides newer narratives that reflect the Maasai history from within its people. The book holds the ace as a major addition to the wider literature on decolonization. Here is the evidence that Maasai history now has pride of place in African Decolonial Studies., Packed with storytelling deeply informed by ancestral knowledge, revelatory and incisive archival work, and detailed, groundbreaking analysis, Meitamei Olol Dapash and Mary Poole not only decolonize and reconstruct the framing of Maasai history, but in doing so offer the wisdom and insight necessary to move forward into new futures. Finishing this book felt like my first transformational trip to Maasailand. When I left I felt like I had embodied a new worldview, not only related to Kenya, Tanzania, and the African continent, but also one that helped me understand a planet so embroiled in crises and so in need of direction. Decolonizing Maasai History shows that another world not only is possible, but necessary., Through their close collaboration with elders and activists of the Maa Nation, Meitamei Olol Dapash and Mary Poole have produced thrilling reconceptualization of Maasai history, of Kenyan history, and of the discipline of history itself. Olol Dapash and Poole provide an alternative to older scholarly approaches that “mine” communities of their knowledge and history for the benefit of the “miners.” Their scholarship demonstrates how centering Indigenous perspectives can transform accepted histories while generating crucial historical and political insights., The richness and depth of thoughts presented in this book offer a significant contribution to the discourse on Indigenous education and its evolving role in modern contexts. Through rigorous scholarship, Joel M. Olol Dapash and Mary Poole provide an insightful and reflective examination of the Maasai educational landscape, highlighting the tension between colonization and self-determination. This book goes beyond the confines of an academic investigation; it offers compelling evidence of the Maasai’s strength, self-portrayal, and quest for cultural independence in an increasingly globalized society. It presents a future-oriented perspective on how education and activism can influence a sustainable future, making it a crucial and timely contribution to Indigenous studies and educational research. The book’s clarity of thought, analytical rigor, and cultural sensitivity are vital for academic scholarship and the wider Indigenous community. I firmly believe that this book will encourage more exploration and pave the way for ongoing investigation into the transformative power of education and Indigenous empowerment. I highly recommend this book to readers who are dedicated to comprehending the connections between education, land rights, and decolonization with great enthusiasm and respect.

Meitamei Olol Dapash is a nationally recognized leader of the Indigenous Maasai community in Kenya, as well as Director of the Institute for Maasai Education, Research & Conservation, Talek, Kenya. He is also the co-founder, with Mary Poole, of the Dopoi Center for community organizing and education, near Talek, Kenya.Mary Poole is a historian of East Africa and Chair of Social Justice Studies, Prescott College, USA. She has collaborated for twenty years with Meitamei Dapash to reconstruct Maasai history and support Maasai land-rights activism.