Athletics
Bolt now a Masai moran
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt at the Nairobi National Museum on Friday evening. Photo/DENNIS OKEYO
Posted Saturday, October 31 2009 at 19:08
The fastest man on earth, Usain Bolt was on Saturday made a Maasai Moran at a brief ceremony at Segere Ranch in Laikipia where the Zeitz Foundation is establishing a conservation programme.
A dozen Morans dressed Bolt in their traditional shuka and presented him with a stick before christening him Loilgwany, the warrior of warriors. It was only after this initiation that the Moran could allow themselves to dance in front of one of the most recognized sporting person in the world.
Heavy rains in the area the previous night, made the airstrip at Segera treacherous, delaying Bolt's arrival by a couple of hours. But the wait was worth it for the Morans who enthusiastically mingled with Bolt and posed with him as he did his now famous victory salute.
One Moran said he wondered why people were telling Bolt, “welcome to Africa, since the origin of the human species was in Africa and Bolt, “was just returning home.” Still, it was Bolt's first game drive in the continent as he sampled the wild species of Africa, which included the fastest animal, the cheetah.
Global ambassador
The Jamaican sprint king is a global ambassador for sport for Zeitz Foundation. He arrived in Kenya on Friday for the official launch of the foundation. The foundation was established by sports manufacturing giant, Puma CEO Jochin Zeitz in 2008 and advocates for the sustainable use of environment.
Before flying out to Segera, Bolt sampled Kenya’s heritage at a function hosted in his honour by the Nation Media Group at the Nairobi National Museum of Kenya. “Since the start of the season, I always looked forward to my first trip to Kenya. It is good that it has come true and I am happy to be here,” he said.
Most of the guests were thrilled to get a photo session with the Jamaican icon including guest of honour Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula.
The minister said a bill would be presented to Cabinet next week, seeking to grant outstanding Kenyan sports icons with diplomatic passports. “When Pamela Jelimo won the Olympics I was inspired to secure her a diplomatic passport and it is always important to honour and recognise these sportsmen,” he said.
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Submitted by NativeSonPosted November 05, 2009 04:12 AM
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Submitted by wagathungu22
Nativeson, u honour me with your honesty...any idea how we can change all that u mentioned and turn it into an african affair?
Posted November 03, 2009 02:57 PM -
Submitted by eastafricanexports
I do not recall any of the Kenyan athletes giving back to the wider community apart from the legendary Kipchoge Keino. Most of them are out to cash in for their own / their families' benefit. Give credit where it's due and recognise that these people are doing more for us than we do for ourselves.
Posted November 03, 2009 02:04 AM -
Submitted by NativeSon
Wagathungu22, You seem to be a foreigner in your own country. Don't you know that we, the Kenyans, love any and everything foreign at the expense of our own no matter how good it might be? Foreign experts on constitution, Foreign mediators, foreign artists, foreign footballers, ....Have you ever seen a bus called 'Paul Tergat' or 'Catherine Ndereba?' Remember we had 'Ben Johnson' once? That is who we are. We are lost as a country, as a society, as a people.
Posted November 03, 2009 01:22 AM -
Submitted by wagathungu22
Give me a break people!! Give your fellow Kenyans the recognition they're due, then start on foreigners..Am so tired of Africans who only kiss foreigners 'shoes' n cant even give their own people some kind of hongera
Posted November 02, 2009 08:53 PM
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Wagathungu, Change has to come from within, from us. We are the best without a doubt but somehow, we don't realise it. How come we always cheer when foreigners tell us to clean up our house. AFter having lived outside Kenya, I can attest to the fact that all nations are the same:-corruption, nepotism, favouritsm e.t.c. We just have to trust in ourselves. We are admired out there but we don't even seem to realise...our athletes, wildlife e.t.c.