The Lion and the Maasai Warrior

Musekiwa Samuriwo

• 28 december 2023
• 1230007228728

Samenvatting:

Let’s stop fighting wars and start innovating. Lasting revolutions are brought about by ideas that work to solve problems not create new ones.

When Richard Turere developed the Lion Lights, he was a young boy living wi

The title of this book is inspired by the story of a young Kenyan man named Richard Turere who sought to solve a long-standing problem; the conflict between his community and lions. The story got me thinking about some of Africa’s biggest problems and the fact that some have no solution or the solution is archaic.

In this case, for hundreds of years when lions killed the Maasais’ cows, the Maasai would then go out and hunt the lion. More recently, the conflict between the Maasai and lions caused international consternation among conservationists and environmentalists. Attempts to resolve the issue proved complex, no amount of regulation would change the entrenched cultural beliefs of the Maasai and no curbs and boundaries could stop the lions from finding easy prey.

It would take a very simple idea, developed by a young boy who lived within the context to bring change and resolve the issue. At this point, a new Maasai warrior was born. I have discovered more stories like this across Africa, making me think more deeply about innovation and invention.

There is an impending invasion of innovative ideas in Africa. I have come to call this invasion BareBone Innovation (BBI) because, with limited support and extenuating circumstances, many young Africans are developing practical and applicable solutions for their communities’ problems.

It is my bold assertion in this book that Africa has the skills, talents, and time necessary to develop innovations that can solve some of the problems the continent is facing. It narrows down to how Africa’s people decide to use their skills and knowledge to improve their lives and the lives of others.

The problems in Africa can only be solved when the people of Africa take ownership and choose to work towards finding solutions for their problems.

This book has four main objectives namely to discuss the value of innovation at the local community level, the challenges facing innovators, explaining the concept of BareBone Innovation (BBI), and presenting BBI as a simple systematic process to encourage more innovative enterprise in Africa. Like Richard Turere and many others emerging across Africa, innovation does not have to be a costly exercise but at a bare minimum sign of intent and passion to make a difference.

Africa’s social and economic problems are well documented and researched. There have been researched articles and papers written, programs developed, and interventions designed by the international community. In some cases, there have been significant strides towards solving some of these challenges. Yet, the real challenge has been the participation and contribution of the African citizen in solving some of these problems. Without local motivation and action, any intervention will be unsustainable.