Red Ochre, White Chalk, The Masai Eunoto

Nomination Award of Festivities

Louise Gubb (South Africa)

The moran's hair is shaved at the end of the eunoto, to mark his ritual passage to manhood. Their mothers, with blessed milk poured on the scalp to facilitate the razor cutting. Adult Masai women, the moran's mothers, sisters and relatives, singing in groups to celebrate the warrior's graduation.
Halfway the week of ceremony, the warriors are made to go find a secret cache of white chalk in the wild, and as they near their destination, they race each other to get there first. Moran in friendly competition over who can best perform the traditional standing jump, an expression of Masai masculinity.