COMMUNITY

The Laikipiak (Mokogodo) Maasai have been guardians of the Mokogodo forest for over a hundred years.  They are descendants of the Yaaku tribe and these forest dwellers had a language (Seiku) that was more similar to Somali, Rendille and several Ethiopian languages than to Maa, the Maasai language.  They lived in caves, foraging in the forest, tending goats and bee keeping.  The Yaaku became expert elephant hunters once the ivory trade began.  They used poison arrows, spears and an ingenious block trap.

During the 1920s their lives changed dramatically after a gang of Wakamba tribesmen raided one of the Yaaku villages, killing many and stealing their hoard of ivory.  In retaliation ten Wakamba were killed and twelve tusks were recovered.  The Yaaku subsequently disowned their name, preferring to be called Laikipiak Maasai. They acquired cattle by selling their daughters to neighbouring Maasai tribesmen and they built Maasai style houses.  They proceeded to adopt Maa as their language but now only a few elders speak or even understand Seiku.

In the 1940s the Mokogodo people decided to increase their grazing in the forest for their cattle, clearing the bush, thus creating the beautiful Andanguru Plain, which is surrounded by the primal Mokogodo forest, which guests at Tassia can enjoy today.