At the Bead Society of Great Britain we learned about this just too late to organise an event ourselves but hope participants here who can will find out more and maybe attend their workshops coming up in UK?
(tried to attach the press release but it might not open.)
You can find additional info at http://www.oloipmaasai.org/index.htm
Subject: Maasai Warriors bring their beads to the UK.....................
From Robin Brooke,( forwarded by Stefany Tomalin)
I'm currently helping to organise a visit to the UK by a group of Maasai Warriors from the Rift Valley in Kenya, who will be touring the UK giving performances of traditional Maasai Dances as well as talks on their culture demonstrations of their famous bead Jewellery and costumes.
They will be visiting the UK between the 23rd of May and the 3rd of June and I wondered if the Bead Society of Great Britain might be interested in helping organise and / or promoting some form of social / fund raising event for their members with the Maasai during their visit?
Whilst I was in Kenya a member of the dance troop who is responsible for the groups jewellry and costumes (having learnt the traditions of Maasai beadwork growing up in a traditional Maasai village) expressed an interest in beadwork in the UK -which gave me the idea of contacting you regarding their visit in May.
I appreciate this is a little short notice, but it is also likely to be a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet ordinary members of the Maasai community, to share stories and ideas and learn something of each others history and traditions. I'm open to any ideas you may have, from an informal talk / beading workshop with a local beading group in their village hall right up to an full day of dance performances, talks, beading demonstrations and sales of authentic Maasai Jewellery open to your members from across the country.
If you are interested in the above, or if you have any ideas or contacts that might help me, please contact me directly and I'd be happy to discuss ideas and give you whatever additional information you may require.
I've attached a link for a standard press release that I've sent to local newspapers which will give you more information on the visit.
Kind regards,
Robin Brooke
Replies
ooops- Sorry! the URL i gave should be:
http://www.oloipmaasai.org/index.html