The Maasai Cricket Warriors

Did you know that cricket was extremely popular on the coasts of Eastern Africa, and more specifically among the traditional Maasai warriors? Well, Thomas Mukoya, photojournalist that works for Reuters, took few amazing pictures of them during one of their friendly matches in Mombasa.

1.

A member of the Maasai Cricket Warriors team catches a ball in Mombasa.

Thomas Mukoya is a Nairobi-based Kenyan photojournalist who has worked with Thomson Reuters, the world’s largest international news agency, since 2004 and is the President of the Photojournalist’s association of Kenya (PAK). Thomas has traveled widely across Africa covering breaking news and feature stories from Kenya, Somalia, Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Comoros, Djibouti, Malawi and the “2010 Fifa World Cup” in South Africa and the “Walk to Independence” in South Sudan. His last major assignment was documenting the Drought and Famine story in the Horn of Africa in 2011. Thomas covered the African Cup of Nations 2012 tournament in Libreville Gabon.

2.

Members of the Maasai Cricket Warriors walk from a ferry to attend their friendly match in Mombasa.

Here you can see some of his less tense works featuring the Maasai cricket warriors. The Maasai (sometimes spelled “Masai” or “Masaai”) are a Nilotic ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are among the best known of African ethnic groups, due to their distinctive customs and dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa. The Tanzanian and Kenyan governments have instituted programs to encourage the Maasai to abandon their traditional semi-nomadic lifestyle, but the people have continued their age-old customs. Still, they’ve accepted cricket gladly.

3.

Daniel Ole Mamai of the Maasai Cricket Warriors plays a shot during their friendly match in Mombasa

4.

Christopher Ole Ngais of the Maasai Cricket Warriors plays a shot during their friendly match in Mombasa.

5.

Members of the Maasai Cricket Warriors team stretch before their friendly match in Mombasa.

6.

Jonathan Ole Meshami of the Maasai Cricket Warriors plays a shot during their friendly match in Mombasa.

7.

Ole Ngais, captain of the Maasai Cricket Warriors, leaves the field after he was dismissed in Mombasa.

8.

Players from the Maasai Cricket Warriors run between the wicket during their friendly match in Mombasa.

9.

Sonyanga Ole Ngais, captain of the Maasai Cricket Warriors, assists his teammates to dress-up before their friendly match against the Jafferys team in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

10.

Members of the Maasai Cricket Warriors pray before their friendly match against the Jafferys team in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

11.

Olengais, captain of the Maasai Cricket Warriors team, stretches before their friendly match in Mombasa.

12.

Olengais, captain of the Maasai Cricket Warriors, plays a shot during their friendly match in Mombasa.

13.

A member of the Maasai Cricket Warriors team catches the ball during their friendly match in Mombasa.

14.

Members of the Maasai Cricket Warriors attend a practice session at the shores of the Indian Ocean in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

15.

Ole Meshami of the Maasai Cricket Warriors walks to attend their friendly match in Mombasa.

16.

Members of the Maasai Cricket Warriors walk to attend their friendly match in Mombasa.

17.

Members of the Maasai Cricket Warriors attend a practice session at the shores of the Indian Ocean in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

18.

Ole Mamai of the Maasai Cricket Warriors plays a shot during their friendly match in Mombasa.

19.

Ole Mamai of the Maasai Cricket Warriors and his teammate Ole Ngais run between the wicket against the Jaffery's team during their friendly match in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

20.

Njayo Takare of the Maasai Cricket Warriors plays a shot against the Jafferys team during their friendly match in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

21.

Members of the Maasai Cricket Warriors prepare for their friendly match against the Jafferys team in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

22.

Ole Meshami of the Maasai Cricket Warriors plays a shot against the Jaffery's team during their friendly match in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

23.

Ole Meshami of the Maasai Cricket Warriors leaves the field after he was dismissed during their friendly match against the Jafferys team in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

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