THE LAIKIPIA HIGHLANDS GAMES
19TH OCTOBER 2008

LAIKIPIA NATURE CONSERVANCY

CLICK HERE FOR LAIKIPIA HIGHLAND GAMES 2009

Following the extraordinary success of Emanuele Pirri-Gallmann 25th anniversary memorial celebration with a "Sport for Peace" event last April, in benefit of local communities, The Gallmann Memorial Foundation has joined hands with the Great Rift Valley Trust and The Olympic Committee of Kenya to put up the LAIKIPIA HIGHLANDS GAMES, with an INAUGURAL event on 19th October 2008-a long week end- in Laikipia Nature Conservancy-which will become a major an annual sport and games celebration for peace.

The day will see both Western modern athletics and traditional tribal games in a fast and exciting sequence when local communities, school children, VIPs and major Olympic Stars will meet guests, for peace on Kenya Great Rift Valley's extensive Laikipia Nature Conservancy.

In keeping with the spirit of art/environment and now sport -common denominators that we advocate to bridge differences across the tribal divide- the Games will be preceded by an athletes parade, coreographed by Nikos Lagousakos the Greek coreographer who organised the opening ceremonies of the Athens Olympics, and who was behind the extraordinary success of our Aqua event.

A closing ceremony will follow in the evening for the ones remaining,which will involve street artists, drummers and tribal people from Samburu, Njemps, Turkana and Pokot.

ACCOMODATION

Guests are encouraged to be as independent as possible and to bring their own tents should they want to spend the night. A campsite with toilets and showers has been extablished.

A pay bar and very simple food will be available for purchase at the event, or though pre-paid vouchers.

ENTRY

An Entry fee of 6000 per car for campers, 6000 per landing plane, or 3000 for car for spectators (independent of number of occupants) will be charged at entry to be made out to The Great Rift Valley Trust.

Tented accomodationn and transport is available through Samuel at Lets Go Travel Tel: 0733 873 625.

Further information from Chiara: event@gallmannkenay.co.ke Tel: 0735 943 008

All donations will go directly to charity and specifically to construct a sport arena in the area of West Laikipia for the local youth.

Bring warm clothes,and sun cap or umbrella, plenty of water, your spirit,and see you there!!

DIRECTIONS TO LAIKIPIA HIGHLANDS GAMES

- Nairobi-Gilgil on the Nairobi/Nakuru road about 150 Km.
- Gilgil to Nyahururu ( Thompsons Falls) about 80kms.
- At Nyahururu take the Rumuruti Road.
- After about 9kms, at Maili Saba, turn left and follow the tarmac road to Kinamba (Ol Ngarua).
- Kinamba is at the end of the road, approximately 43km from Maili Saba.

- At the end of the tarmac turn right up a stony/murram road and turn left after around 100 metres.
- After about 1km there is a Y junction, keep right.
- Follow this dirt road until you reach the conservancy main gate approx 7km.
- Sign the book and after 2kms turn right at the T-junction.
- FROM HERE FOLLOW THE ARROWS

The journey takes around four and a half hours from Nairobi to the Games site.

GAMES

Join in these games practiced by warriors and tribal women at The Laikipia Highlands Games!

Eweit

Eweit is a form of race done by Turkana women. It consists two teams of at least 4 each that stand upto 100 metres apart (the two teams divided by two lines). A woman from one team (say A) taps another from the rival team (say B) and runs back towards her team. The tapped woman from (B) runs after her (A) and if she catches her, they both belong to team B. If B fails to catch A, they both belong to team A. The winner is the team that manages to grab as many women from the other team. There is a similar game for the Kikuyu called kiambano but this is played by girls.

Kiruk

Kiruk is a pokot game for women. It is played by a minimum of 12 women. They divide into 2 teams. One team selects one member to represent their bulls and the other team selects one member to represent their cows. The two rival members are encircled by the remaining team members who hold hands. They sing songs of encouragement and praise to their 'cow' and 'bull'. The bull and the cow keep attempting to break the circle and whoever succeeds becomes the winner.

Lkulele

Lkulele is practiced by the Turkana young men. It involves throwing long sharpened sticks that aim at a rounded ring made of twigs. It is played by six men who divide into two to make two teams of three. The ring is put into motion and the competitors are supposed to stop it by stick thrown from a distance. The target distance is agreed upon by competitors. Each player is given three chances in each round. The game was played to identify the sharpshooters of the community, who were used to defend the community in time of raids or wars. Today, the game is played for fun.

Korobee

Korobee is a game practiced by warriors of the Tugen community. Its details are as Lkulele above.

Narungu

Narungu is practiced by Njemps and Samburu communities. It involves throwing rungus (a sharpened stick with a heavy rounded head). Any number of interested warriors plays the game normally when they are in the field looking after cattle. Winning may be determined by the throwing distance or by aiming at something-agreed upon by the competitors. The game was aimed at identifying the sharpshooters of the community who were called upon to defend the community in times of danger. The game is nowadays played for fun.

Anyu

Anyu is another game played by the Samburu and Njemps communities. It is played by warriors and girls and involves running. Eight to Ten people divide to make two teams. The teams chase each other around and every time a member of one team is tapped by a member of the other team, he/she stands and awaits to be rescued by other members of his/her team, who are supposed to run fast and tap them. This game is played for enjoyment and exercise.

The Laikipia Highlands Games have been possible through the generous sponsorship of our main donors whose logos appear on our posters:

THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES IN NAIROBI

THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA

THE EMBASSY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SWITZERLAND IN NAIROBI

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF KENYA

THE AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION

THE KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICES

THE KENYA TOURISM BOARD

COCA COLA

TOTAL KENYA

PUMA

ALIVE AND KICKING

ORBIT CHEMICALS

And the support of The Ministry of Youth and Sport

THE EVENT HAS BEEN COOHORDINATED AND SUPERVISED BY MARTIN KEINO OF KEINO SPORT MARKETING AND BY MICHAEL ROBERTS FOR THE GALLMANN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

THE LAIKIPIA HIGHLANDS GAMES COULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SPONTANEOUS CONTRIBUTIONS IN KIND FROM GENEROUS DONORS CO-ORDINATED THROUGH EKTA SHAH.
HERE BELOW THEIR NAMES AND THEIR LOGOS.

THANKYOU!

DAWAT RICE | Mjengo LTD | Vajas (techpak)