MEDICINAL PLANTS: WORTH FIGHTING FOR

"Nature itself is the best physician." -Hippocrates

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For centuries, the Maasai tribe of East Africa have used the dirt, seeds, leaves, and plant material around them to make natural remedies for colds, stings, cuts, and all manner of sickness. In a place and time where money is scarce, the overwhelming majority of Maasai still use natural cures refined from centuries of living on the land. But what happens when that land no longer exists?

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THE MAASAI LAND CRISIS

Before the time of colonialism, the Maasai roamed across Kenya and Tanzania, herding indigenous cattle, living in harmony with animals and plants. But in the late 19th century, European colonizers began to fragment Maasai lands through forced treaties and false promises. The British treaties of 1904 forced many of the Maasai from northern Kenya, even as German Tanzania began pushing tribes north and away from major population centers. 

In 1961 Tanzania gained independence, followed just two years later by Kenya. But although East Africa was finally free again, the Maasai soon fell under another threat: tourism.

 

Safaris had long been a business in East Africa, but with independence so newly gained, many government officials wanted to boost the country's revenue through more animal tourism. The 1.4 million people visiting Tanzania each year soon became a lucrative market. Foreign investors saw the The Maasai as an obstacle to realizing their vision of a pristine African wilderness. As a result, nearly 1 million Maasai were displaced due tourism-related land grabs, and many more are likely to be removed in the future. 

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WHY NATURAL REMEDIES?
The Maasai, most of whom live far from major population centers and lack the financial means to travel for medical aid, rely predominantly on natural medicine from the bush for health. Whether it be home-brewed teas, crushed fruits, or boiled bark, having a readily available medicine and being able to prepare it using locally sourced ingredients are crucial to Maasai health. And with hundreds of plant species only endemic to certain regions, a shift in location made quickly, such as the mass relocations going on today, heavily disrupts public health.

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Natural remedies are also an integral part of the Maasai cultural fabric, as they play a key role in traditional local heritage. Many remedies are passed down from generation to generation alongside the thousands of other details which make the Maasai culture unique. But without the plants available to the people, a large chunk of that heritage disappears as a new generation finds itself without access to the land they require to find and learn about age-old traditions. 

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Sadly, the fate of the Maasai lands themselves lies with the Tanzanian and Kenyan governments and the many companies now investing in East Africa, but the survival of the rich and beautiful Maasai culture can and must be preserved by the people who care about it. Ilomon's goal is to provide new venues for Maasai to educate future generations about the plants and medicinal practices that tie the culture together.