How conservationists in Kenya change the habits of a people's group: change management in the bush

In Kenya I came across an interesting experiment that I already touched on in my most recent WELT column: conservationists who change the habits and traditions of an entire ethnic group. How can something like that work?

Conflicts in the Maasai country

My last WELT column was about conflicts and their resolution. As an example, I also mentioned the Maasai in Kenya, where the council of elders has the power to decide on the settlement of conflicts decide.

The Maasailand Preservation Trust (MPT), established in 2012 with the Big Life Foundation was united to benefit. This foundation was founded in 1992 by Richard Bonham with the Objective was founded, the Konflikt to resolve between Maasai and the ecosystem.

Massai vs. lions

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On the one hand, the number of lions in Africa has dropped drastically in the last 20 years - from 200.000 to 30.000. On the other hand, indigenous ethnic groups such as the Maasai are the most threatening species of protected cats.

For the Masai are traditionally shepherds and the cattle their livelihood. So if a lion tears one of their cattle, he will be hunted mercilessly. Therefore the MTP pays the Masai now a compensation for each killed cattle.

Centuries-old traditions

But the MTP had something else Problem to solve: The initiation rite from the young Maasai to the man stipulates that he kills a lion. As a replacement for this tradition, the MTP created the Maasai Olympics, in which young men compete against each other in athletic competitions.

The MTP has succeeded change this centuries-old tradition by convincing the Council of Elders. “We have them clear done that soon there would be no more lions for the initiation rite, that convinced them," explains MTP-Employees Sam, who is a Maasai himself, the cultural change.

Change management with rational arguments

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For me, this is an impressive example of how good, rational arguments can be used to break even established structures and change habits that have previously been believed to be irreconcilable.

The man who made this possible, Richard Bonham, is a cheery Kenyan of the third generation, as he proudly emphasizes. Great speeches swing is not his thing, even not before us journalists.

Oddness as a character trait for change?

In 1979, he offered safari tours in regions that nobody else could dare to do, and later he built one of the most luxurious lodges in Kenya with the Ol Donyo Lodge in Massailand.

But even though the house has almost no walls, Bonham still prefers to sleep in the bush. Maybe the right character traits for someone who Welt wants to change.

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