CLICK ON "WATCH IN HIGH QUALITY." I followed some members of a Maasai tribe to see how they raid active bee hives for honey while I was visiting Tanzania in 2007. I captured two attempts, and although no honey was found it was fascinating to watch how they do it. It couldn't be simpler. They start a fire and then use burning sticks to smoke the hive (as bee keepers do sans the burning sticks) and make the bees docile. BUT unlike bee keepers, the Maasai do not wear protective gear! Wearing their regular clothes, they reach into the hives with bare arms, often resulting in dozens of stings. It was explained to me that they become somewhat "used to it" (I wonder if any Maasai are allergic to bee stings, and if so, how do they find out?) I can safely say, without hesitation, despite my travels all over the world with various bands and the subsequent wild experiences and indescribable encounters that I've had, that the Maasai I met during my trip were the most incredible and awe inspiring people I have ever encountered. Descended from the most fierce warriors on the planet, they posses a most arresting calm, and the most supreme confidence despite being in one of the last free roam animal areas on earth. To them, obviously, it is natural. They always know what they are doing, and you must place so much trust in them to travel in certain areas, yet they are so kind and gentle, you cannot help but be profoundly humbled in their presence.

The music playing during this clip is an actual recording I made of a Maasai tribe performing in front of a campfire later that same night. It was an incredible experience, and I absolutely love this song, which I've come to think of as "tribal African blues." It was unlike anything I had ever heard before that night. As I listened to them perform this song, I was amazed by the guttural rhythm, which can be counted as "1-2-1-2-3" - the only other time I can recall hearing this rhythm was in the song "Ian Underwood Whips it Out" by Frank Zappa which is all the more bizarre and resonant for me, considering Ian is a relative of mine! Well, since we're all descended from Africa, maybe somehow it makes complete sense.
Author: digitalshark



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