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Chief Joseph Ole Tipanko

Above, Maasai tribe leaders during a visit to Port Jefferson on Saturday, April 22. Left to right: Chief Joseph Ole Tipanko, Cecilia Tipanko and John Kilenyi Ole Parsitau. Photos by Raymond Janis

Following a multiyear delay due to COVID-19, representatives of Port Jefferson’s sister village visited last weekend.

On Saturday, April 22, the chief of the Maasai tribe in Kenya returned to the Port Jefferson Village Center with two fellow members of the tribe. The Maasai delegation presented on local developments in Kenya since its last visit, as the shadow of the pandemic and environmental degradation have diminished their way of life.

In Maasai villages, there is no running water or electricity, they explained. The women construct huts made of sticks and mud. Men protect the community from the numerous dangerous animals that cohabitate in their territory. In this agricultural society, a Maasai family’s worth is determined by the number of cattle it owns.

‘For any American, it’s very beneficial to know about other cultures and other parts of the world.’

— Virginia Armstrong

In recent years, the Maasai have been ravaged by severe drought, killing off much of their cattle and endangering their very existence.

The chief, Joseph Ole Tipanko, oversees approximately 7,000 people in Kenya. His wife, Cecilia, and John Kilenyi Ole Parsitau were with him.

During their presentations, the Maasai people had an opportunity to share their culture with Port Jeff, highlighting the many similarities and differences between the two.

Virginia Armstrong is a local resident and partner of the Maasai organization, helping arrange their events while they are visiting the United States. 

She said that through the year, the leaders and community members of the two villages, though separated by 10,000 miles, have forged close ties.

“Mayor [Margot] Garant has been here several times, and she calls them her sister village,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong also stressed the unique opportunities that this bond creates, emphasizing how cultural exchanges between the two villages mutually enrich one another.

“We benefit each other,” she said. “We bring some cultural awareness to Port Jeff and then, in exchange, we are supported by the village here.”

She added, “For any American, it’s very beneficial to know about other cultures and other parts of the world.”

‘Whenever we come here, we feel so connected.’

— Chief Joseph Ole Tipanko

During the presentations, the chief explored some of the challenges that the Maasai people face today, including severe droughts, environmental degradation and the ill effects of climate change.

The chief said there are numerous attributes that Port Jeff village residents should take away from the Maasai way of life. “People need to be bonded together by love and unity,” he said. “It’s also good that they know that they should conserve.”

Tipanko stressed that in much of the undeveloped world, including the Maasai villages, access to food is often limited. He reminded Americans that they should not take food for granted. 

“They should appreciate what they have here in this country,” he said.

He has also observed in the U.S. a tendency toward excess, with many Americans consuming well beyond their basic needs. He commented that this mode of thinking could lead to a grasping, materialistic outlook and culture, impeding one’s connection to others and enjoyment of life.

American children “need much, but in Africa, even getting a sweet — a candy — is something big,” he said. “Getting a pair of shoes is something that’s big because some of the kids are barefoot.” 

He added that Americans “should be thankful for what they have because they have running water in their houses, bathrooms and electricity. To me, I think they are very lucky.”

Upon returning to Port Jeff, the chief highlighted the importance of sharing that message.

“Whenever we come here, we feel so connected,” he said, adding that this unique forum “teaches the students to come and appreciate the diverse cultures of the world. And in that, when I understand their culture and they understand my culture, we are able to live peacefully as brothers and sisters for a peaceful global world.”

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Chief Joseph Ole Tipanko and members of the Kenyan Maasai tribe returned to their “home away from home” Oct. 6 when they led educational presentations to a room full of local residents at the Port Jefferson Village Center.  

Patrons learned about the history, customs and lifestyle of the tribe who reside in Kenya and Tanzania. 

“They are the oldest indengious African tribe still functioning in Africa today, much in the way they did from the beginning of time,” said Virginia Armstrong, a local resident who partners with the Maasai Good Salvage Outreach Organization. 

The presentation was organized by Armstrong, a former Mount Sinai educator, and the Maasai Good Salvage Outreach Organization, which builds schools for needy and vulnerable children. 

Over the years, Armstrong and the organization have raised donations to help the Maasai communities. In July 2018, the educator and the Mount Sinai School District helped shipped 140 small laptop computers to children in both Sri Lanka and to the Maasai tribe. In 2015, they donated clothing and sneakers as part of an Athletes Helping Athletes clothing drive. They also helped build a school for the villages wired with electricity. 

Chief Joseph spoke about life in his tribe.  

“The Maasai are tranquil, nomadic and an indigenous group of people,” he said. “We have still kept of our lifestyle and traditions despite many changes that are happening in the communities.”

Joseph said since he has become the chief of the tribe, he has worked to move away from old customs of arranged and early child marriages and female genital cutting. With help from the outreach organization and others they have been able to give young girls an alternative by providing them with an education. 

“We have been campaigning in our villages to end [the practices],” he said. 

Last year, 11 at-risk girls graduated from the tribe’s local high school. Some have qualified to go to university, while others will join technical colleges. Currently, 12 girls are being supported in high school and eight are being sponsored in elementary school. Hot lunches, school uniforms and books are also provided for 28 preschool kids.  

Other highlights of the presentations were Chief Joseph and John Kilenyi Ole Parsitau performing native songs and dances. The duo also let three attendees try on traditional Maasai robes. 

Margot Garant, Port Jeff mayor, presented Chief Joseph and members of the Maasai with official village pins. 

Chief and I met six or seven years ago when he came to the village and it was love at first site,” she said. “We adopted the Maasai tribe as our sister village and we are committed to finishing the girls dormitory and a pump for your well.”

On hand, the tribe had articles of jewelry, crafts and clothing for attendees to buy. All funds collected will go toward the children’s education and water projects in the villages. Patrons were encouraged to sponsor a Maasai child’s education. 

To find out more about the Maasai tribe, visit www.magsaoutreach.org. To find out more about the tribe’s ties to Suffolk County or to donate, visit www.leavingfootprints.org.