Facing The Lion is an autobiography by Joseph Lekuton, it is primarily set in the 1970s and 1980s in Kenya. The book was originally published in 2003. It is about Lekuton’s life living both as a Maasai and a schoolboy in the Kenyan Savannah. The Maasai people’s entire lifestyle center around their animals, in the biography’s case, cows. In the book, they herd and protect the cows from hostile animals and conditions. They have to constantly move to find grass for their cows, and never stay in one place long. The people value honor and family above all else. To be considered honorable was one of the greatest things you could have. They believe in one omnipotent God, where honorable people were blessed, but hardships were seen as a punishment.
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Everyone had a responsibility, and everyone was expected to do it to the best of their ability. Shirking responsibility brought shame to yourself and yourself family. Children were expected to help where they could, usually near the village. Circumcision ceremonies are generally held 10-15 years apart, and all young men over a certain age take part. After the ceremony, these young men become the warriors of the tribe, relieving the previous group of their duties. After one group is replaced with new warriors, they pick up an important profession, get married, and have children. After this, you joined a group of elders that made decisions for the tribe. You would then live out the rest of your days in this group. This is not how it turned out for him though. The Government of Kenya had issued a law that every nomadic family must send one child to school, whether they liked it or not. My father did not like it… A child at school was one fewer child to work… The authorities said, ‘You must send a boy to school. Choose.’ (pg. 43)
Despite only going to school because he was forced, he genuinely liked it there, and worked hard. The school was taught by Christian missionaries, who took the opportunity
Everyone had a responsibility, and everyone was expected to do it to the best of their ability. Shirking responsibility brought shame to yourself and yourself family. Children were expected to help where they could, usually near the village. Circumcision ceremonies are generally held 10-15 years apart, and all young men over a certain age take part. After the ceremony, these young men become the warriors of the tribe, relieving the previous group of their duties. After one group is replaced with new warriors, they pick up an important profession, get married, and have children. After this, you joined a group of elders that made decisions for the tribe. You would then live out the rest of your days in this group. This is not how it turned out for him though. The Government of Kenya had issued a law that every nomadic family must send one child to school, whether they liked it or not. My father did not like it… A child at school was one fewer child to work… The authorities said, ‘You must send a boy to school. Choose.’ (pg. 43)
Despite only going to school because he was forced, he genuinely liked it there, and worked hard. The school was taught by Christian missionaries, who took the opportunity