Lesharo: Warrior and Traveler
1985 - 1988

1985: With the Masai

Dan meets Kipenget, a Maasai woman who lives in the Ngong Hills outside of Nairobi. In order to support her many children and maintain her small hut, she makes and sells jewelry. Dan begins selling the jewelry to friends and tourists, giving all of the proceeds back to Kipenget. He hitchhikes to her hut often, playing in the Ngongs with her son Meriape. At night, he joins in with their fireside chants and songs, and then shares a hammock with one of the children. One afternoon while chasing giraffes with Frisbees, Meriape and his friends decide to give Dan a mock initiation ceremony. Unlike the very serious circumcision ceremony that Maasai adolescent boys go through, this is all for fun. Still, Dan is thrilled by the sense of belonging. He is given the name "Lesharo," the laughing one.