Live and let live – a Maasai War Cry | Svein Wilhelmsen | TEDxArendal

Oh stupid really stupid I was and full

Oh stupid really stupid I was and full of ignorance when I pushed my muscle

of ignorance when I pushed my muscle

of ignorance when I pushed my muscle friend big Moses for this walking Safari

friend big Moses for this walking Safari

friend big Moses for this walking Safari not an ordinary walk but one with the

not an ordinary walk but one with the

not an ordinary walk but one with the intention of finding the line on foot

intention of finding the line on foot

intention of finding the line on foot with only one spear this beer big Moses

with only one spear this beer big Moses

with only one spear this beer big Moses spear I was full of testosterone high on

spear I was full of testosterone high on

spear I was full of testosterone high on myself how brave I am it is just sunrise

myself how brave I am it is just sunrise

myself how brave I am it is just sunrise a beautiful morning clear sky moist in

a beautiful morning clear sky moist in

a beautiful morning clear sky moist in the grass stunning we are approaching

the grass stunning we are approaching

the grass stunning we are approaching this bush suddenly just 40 meters before

this bush suddenly just 40 meters before

this bush suddenly just 40 meters before it stops sniff then he whispers lion

move after a long silence says the lion

move after a long silence says the lion has just left and he starts to approach

has just left and he starts to approach

has just left and he starts to approach the bushes me on his heels we enter the

the bushes me on his heels we enter the

the bushes me on his heels we enter the bushes and I see it lion mane hanging in

bushes and I see it lion mane hanging in

bushes and I see it lion mane hanging in there costly porn and huge footprints in

there costly porn and huge footprints in

there costly porn and huge footprints in the Sun fresh deer and then I realize

the Sun fresh deer and then I realize

the Sun fresh deer and then I realize this is knowledge I am terrified but

this is knowledge I am terrified but

this is knowledge I am terrified but very happy I’m not in this picture I

don’t think I ended up in East Africa by

don’t think I ended up in East Africa by coincidence

coincidence

coincidence I was looking for it one night some 20

I was looking for it one night some 20

I was looking for it one night some 20 years ago I find myself resting around a

years ago I find myself resting around a

years ago I find myself resting around a fireplace in the Maasai Mara

fireplace in the Maasai Mara

fireplace in the Maasai Mara Kenya’s world-famous animal area

suddenly he stood there

suddenly he stood there hula tyke dare chief I will always

hula tyke dare chief I will always

hula tyke dare chief I will always remember his body posture tall erect

remember his body posture tall erect

remember his body posture tall erect proud with Stern but friendly eyes we

proud with Stern but friendly eyes we

proud with Stern but friendly eyes we talked through the night and I heard his

talked through the night and I heard his

talked through the night and I heard his same old story about a resourceful

same old story about a resourceful

same old story about a resourceful culture trapped in poverty with their

culture trapped in poverty with their

culture trapped in poverty with their environment being destroyed when the

environment being destroyed when the

environment being destroyed when the African Sun rose we were brothers in

African Sun rose we were brothers in

African Sun rose we were brothers in arms brothers in Spears partners within

arms brothers in Spears partners within

arms brothers in Spears partners within responsible tourism I was his investor

responsible tourism I was his investor

responsible tourism I was his investor base camp Explorer was born with one

base camp Explorer was born with one

base camp Explorer was born with one main goal to save the wildlife of the

main goal to save the wildlife of the

main goal to save the wildlife of the Maasai Mara by partnering with his

Maasai Mara by partnering with his

Maasai Mara by partnering with his people and the old man became my most in

people and the old man became my most in

people and the old man became my most in important mentor I met a lot of

important mentor I met a lot of

important mentor I met a lot of skepticism and truly at times it has

skepticism and truly at times it has

skepticism and truly at times it has been a very bumpy road we chose a

been a very bumpy road we chose a

been a very bumpy road we chose a difficult model of operation by

difficult model of operation by

difficult model of operation by recruiting only local Maasai youth and

recruiting only local Maasai youth and

recruiting only local Maasai youth and trained them from scratch ourselves and

trained them from scratch ourselves and

trained them from scratch ourselves and when you choose such a model you are in

when you choose such a model you are in

when you choose such a model you are in for surprises but that is part of fun

for surprises but that is part of fun

for surprises but that is part of fun isn’t it to overcome these difficult

isn’t it to overcome these difficult

isn’t it to overcome these difficult cultural differences I think you need

cultural differences I think you need

cultural differences I think you need two main approaches only promise what

two main approaches only promise what

two main approaches only promise what you can deliver and then deliver that

you can deliver and then deliver that

you can deliver and then deliver that and secondly make sure you share the

and secondly make sure you share the

and secondly make sure you share the burdens but also the benefits Basecamp

burdens but also the benefits Basecamp

burdens but also the benefits Basecamp Explorer became a showcase in

Explorer became a showcase in

Explorer became a showcase in responsible tourism but short cases

responsible tourism but short cases

responsible tourism but short cases tends to be small pieces without

tends to be small pieces without

tends to be small pieces without profound and lasting impact so we

profound and lasting impact so we

profound and lasting impact so we realized this is not get us to where we

realized this is not get us to where we

realized this is not get us to where we want to be we need to scale rapidly

this beer reminds me of local knowledge

this beer reminds me of local knowledge but is this knowledge really relevant

but is this knowledge really relevant

but is this knowledge really relevant any longer if we are to keep our common

any longer if we are to keep our common

any longer if we are to keep our common forefathers the large mammals I think

forefathers the large mammals I think

forefathers the large mammals I think the answer is yes but Africa is losing

the answer is yes but Africa is losing

the answer is yes but Africa is losing them because we humans give them no

them because we humans give them no

them because we humans give them no space Africa has lost some 95% of its

space Africa has lost some 95% of its

space Africa has lost some 95% of its iconic mammals like elephant rhinos

iconic mammals like elephant rhinos

iconic mammals like elephant rhinos lions and cheetah just over the last few

lions and cheetah just over the last few

lions and cheetah just over the last few generations and the little that’s left

generations and the little that’s left

generations and the little that’s left depends on isolated land areas like

depends on isolated land areas like

depends on isolated land areas like islands without the necessary corridors

islands without the necessary corridors

islands without the necessary corridors for the animals to move one such land

for the animals to move one such land

for the animals to move one such land area is unmatched the Maasai Mara Kenya

area is unmatched the Maasai Mara Kenya

area is unmatched the Maasai Mara Kenya combined with Serengeti in Tanzania this

combined with Serengeti in Tanzania this

combined with Serengeti in Tanzania this land island holds some 40 percent of us

land island holds some 40 percent of us

land island holds some 40 percent of us left of large mammals in Africa on one

left of large mammals in Africa on one

left of large mammals in Africa on one thousandth of its land area and this is

thousandth of its land area and this is

thousandth of its land area and this is also the last stronghold of the Masai

also the last stronghold of the Masai

also the last stronghold of the Masai tribe but stakeholders compete for this

tribe but stakeholders compete for this

tribe but stakeholders compete for this area fighting with the wildlife for it

area fighting with the wildlife for it

area fighting with the wildlife for it for example for agriculture village

for example for agriculture village

for example for agriculture village settlements and also pure investment

settlements and also pure investment

settlements and also pure investment speculations I hope you don’t think you

speculations I hope you don’t think you

speculations I hope you don’t think you are supposed to understand this fault

are supposed to understand this fault

are supposed to understand this fault most of us don’t but it holds a key

most of us don’t but it holds a key

most of us don’t but it holds a key message it shows what easily happens if

message it shows what easily happens if

message it shows what easily happens if a continuous land area is subdivided

a continuous land area is subdivided

a continuous land area is subdivided into individual plots if these plots are

into individual plots if these plots are

into individual plots if these plots are fenced no more wildlife

fenced no more wildlife

fenced no more wildlife so to meet this threat leading Maasai

so to meet this threat leading Maasai

so to meet this threat leading Maasai land owners sat with tourists investors

land owners sat with tourists investors

land owners sat with tourists investors like ourselves and agreed to a model the

like ourselves and agreed to a model the

like ourselves and agreed to a model the land owners would invest the land for

land owners would invest the land for

land owners would invest the land for wildlife conservation based on a

wildlife conservation based on a

wildlife conservation based on a long-term lease agreement so why did

long-term lease agreement so why did

long-term lease agreement so why did they do that they did it based on a

they do that they did it based on a

they do that they did it based on a model that combines four factors that

model that combines four factors that

model that combines four factors that are important to them guaranteed lease

are important to them guaranteed lease

are important to them guaranteed lease payments control cattle racing job

payments control cattle racing job

payments control cattle racing job creation and community projects they

creation and community projects they

creation and community projects they choose the name model my boss Shaw

choose the name model my boss Shaw

choose the name model my boss Shaw Wildlife Conservancy my BOSU is an old

Wildlife Conservancy my BOSU is an old

Wildlife Conservancy my BOSU is an old Maasai war cry used in times of

Maasai war cry used in times of

Maasai war cry used in times of existential threat

existential threat

existential threat it literally means coming together

it literally means coming together

it literally means coming together shoulders by shoulders Spears raced that

shoulders by shoulders Spears raced that

shoulders by shoulders Spears raced that was the way they felt and that moved the

was the way they felt and that moved the

was the way they felt and that moved the rest of us into action I can’t recall

rest of us into action I can’t recall

rest of us into action I can’t recall how many times I heard our Masai friends

how many times I heard our Masai friends

how many times I heard our Masai friends saying my boss show has we installed our

saying my boss show has we installed our

saying my boss show has we installed our hope for the future

you could rightly ask has it really

you could rightly ask has it really worked

worked

worked the Nebojsa model has been scaled across

the Nebojsa model has been scaled across

the Nebojsa model has been scaled across the northern part of the Maasai Mara

the northern part of the Maasai Mara

the northern part of the Maasai Mara ecosystem here are the results up to

ecosystem here are the results up to

ecosystem here are the results up to this point more than 1,000 square

this point more than 1,000 square

this point more than 1,000 square kilometer that’s 250,000 acre secured

kilometer that’s 250,000 acre secured

kilometer that’s 250,000 acre secured for wildlife 3.8 million u.s. dollar

for wildlife 3.8 million u.s. dollar

for wildlife 3.8 million u.s. dollar pair paid yearly in lease fees some

pair paid yearly in lease fees some

pair paid yearly in lease fees some 2,000 very needed jobs created that this

2,000 very needed jobs created that this

2,000 very needed jobs created that this means that some 75,000 individuals has

means that some 75,000 individuals has

means that some 75,000 individuals has got a much better life and wildlife has

got a much better life and wildlife has

got a much better life and wildlife has flourished at the same time this over a

flourished at the same time this over a

flourished at the same time this over a 10-year period

10-year period

10-year period so we are on the move but this is

so we are on the move but this is

so we are on the move but this is neither perfect or finished

neither perfect or finished

neither perfect or finished we have huge issues let me only mention

we have huge issues let me only mention

we have huge issues let me only mention two for you to many livestock leading to

two for you to many livestock leading to

two for you to many livestock leading to over grazing and too fast population

over grazing and too fast population

over grazing and too fast population growth living among the Maasai for

growth living among the Maasai for

growth living among the Maasai for longer period of the time I’m often

longer period of the time I’m often

longer period of the time I’m often asked by our curious guests so who are

asked by our curious guests so who are

asked by our curious guests so who are these mystical mouthsize really I don’t

these mystical mouthsize really I don’t

these mystical mouthsize really I don’t know but I know some reasons why I like

know but I know some reasons why I like

know but I know some reasons why I like to be with them we have a very strong

to be with them we have a very strong

to be with them we have a very strong identity for the culture they smile and

identity for the culture they smile and

identity for the culture they smile and laugh a lot and that makes life much

laugh a lot and that makes life much

laugh a lot and that makes life much more enjoyable doesn’t it and there are

more enjoyable doesn’t it and there are

more enjoyable doesn’t it and there are very welcoming culture once you earned a

very welcoming culture once you earned a

very welcoming culture once you earned a trust this is not a culture that starts

trust this is not a culture that starts

trust this is not a culture that starts with building a wall one morning I’m out

with building a wall one morning I’m out

with building a wall one morning I’m out walking with another Maasai friend

walking with another Maasai friend

walking with another Maasai friend tuncay alert hike and believe it or not

tuncay alert hike and believe it or not

tuncay alert hike and believe it or not this time we are not looking for the

this time we are not looking for the

this time we are not looking for the line and we come to this natural water

line and we come to this natural water

line and we come to this natural water spring teeming with wildlife and

spring teeming with wildlife and

spring teeming with wildlife and suddenly we hear these cowbells and this

suddenly we hear these cowbells and this

suddenly we hear these cowbells and this Masai herder comes with his cows to

Masai herder comes with his cows to

Masai herder comes with his cows to drink a bunch of them 30 40 maybe even

drink a bunch of them 30 40 maybe even

drink a bunch of them 30 40 maybe even 50 and I immediately start counting 1 2

50 and I immediately start counting 1 2

50 and I immediately start counting 1 2 3 and I get 2 4 then my friend tongue

3 and I get 2 4 then my friend tongue

3 and I get 2 4 then my friend tongue kisses one is missing that was quick

kisses one is missing that was quick

kisses one is missing that was quick counting no he says I’m not counting I

counting no he says I’m not counting I

counting no he says I’m not counting I know this hurts cows so I’m just looking

know this hurts cows so I’m just looking

know this hurts cows so I’m just looking at the moving patterns and one is

at the moving patterns and one is

at the moving patterns and one is missing so we spend the rest of that

missing so we spend the rest of that

missing so we spend the rest of that walk discussing the differences between

walk discussing the differences between

walk discussing the differences between our culture’s how we fragment and count

our culture’s how we fragment and count

our culture’s how we fragment and count to understand reality and they are

to understand reality and they are

to understand reality and they are looking at the moving patterns I realize

looking at the moving patterns I realize

looking at the moving patterns I realize I learn from them

I learn from them

I learn from them and I get to use my background in

and I get to use my background in

and I get to use my background in Business and Finance in this partnership

Business and Finance in this partnership

Business and Finance in this partnership both parties receives the gift of

both parties receives the gift of

both parties receives the gift of purpose I think we need to really learn

purpose I think we need to really learn

purpose I think we need to really learn to live together but why leave it

to live together but why leave it

to live together but why leave it wildlife and even predators when they

wildlife and even predators when they

wildlife and even predators when they kill your livestock and even you this is

kill your livestock and even you this is

kill your livestock and even you this is to me the big identity question it

to me the big identity question it

to me the big identity question it defines who we are if we cannot accept

defines who we are if we cannot accept

defines who we are if we cannot accept that other life-forms also has the right

that other life-forms also has the right

that other life-forms also has the right to space and resources it will diminish

to space and resources it will diminish

to space and resources it will diminish us as human beings it’s about how we see

us as human beings it’s about how we see

us as human beings it’s about how we see us in the web of life as an integrated

us in the web of life as an integrated

us in the web of life as an integrated part of it or separated from it only

part of it or separated from it only

part of it or separated from it only with the might to exploit this is

with the might to exploit this is

with the might to exploit this is ominous she’s rather short for a Masai

ominous she’s rather short for a Masai

ominous she’s rather short for a Masai but she’s not small on the contrary she

but she’s not small on the contrary she

but she’s not small on the contrary she is one of very very few full fledged

is one of very very few full fledged

is one of very very few full fledged Maasai lady guides and until June this

Maasai lady guides and until June this

Maasai lady guides and until June this year she had never been out of the

year she had never been out of the

year she had never been out of the savanna

savanna

savanna so we asked her Agnes would you like to

so we asked her Agnes would you like to

so we asked her Agnes would you like to see the Arctic she had no doubt so she

see the Arctic she had no doubt so she

see the Arctic she had no doubt so she came with us to Spitsbergen about as

came with us to Spitsbergen about as

came with us to Spitsbergen about as close to the North Pole as you can get

close to the North Pole as you can get

close to the North Pole as you can get and she managed all of it even both

and she managed all of it even both

and she managed all of it even both trips in small open boats on the

trips in small open boats on the

trips in small open boats on the enormous Arctic Ocean with high waves

enormous Arctic Ocean with high waves

enormous Arctic Ocean with high waves whales around her and the polar bears

whales around her and the polar bears

whales around her and the polar bears close by so who is the most important

close by so who is the most important

close by so who is the most important character if we are to preserve

character if we are to preserve

character if we are to preserve ecosystems like the Maasai Mara I would

ecosystems like the Maasai Mara I would

ecosystems like the Maasai Mara I would bet on the woman

it is today a great blessing to be

it is today a great blessing to be honest mentor just as all a hike was for

honest mentor just as all a hike was for

honest mentor just as all a hike was for me I believe we all will become much

me I believe we all will become much

me I believe we all will become much poorer if we continue to destroy our

poorer if we continue to destroy our

poorer if we continue to destroy our natural paradises let’s rather get

natural paradises let’s rather get

natural paradises let’s rather get together lift our spirits our resources

together lift our spirits our resources

together lift our spirits our resources shout not bottle and save these wonders

shout not bottle and save these wonders

shout not bottle and save these wonders for wildlife for all of us

for wildlife for all of us

for wildlife for all of us and for the future generations thank you

and for the future generations thank you

and for the future generations thank you [Applause]