For years, the Maasai living in Simanjiro Tanzania had little hope for the future. The world was closing in around them, an unknown disease (AIDS) was threatening to destroy them, and they were losing the never-ending fight to sustain life in a desolate land. Then God began to reveal himself to members of the community. One group of Maasai saw the needs around them and decided to do something about it. They formed an NGO, MAPED, to tackle the problems they saw in their communities, offering new hope for combatting HIV/AIDS, providing clean drinking water, ending FGM (female circumcision), creating education opportunities, and doing evangelism.
The En-kata project is a collaboration between Pamoja Ministries and MAPED, combining the strength and faith of the Maasai and the resources of the West to enable community development.
The Choir
The core of the En-kata project is MAPED’s En-kata Choir and the incredible, authentic music being written by the members of the choir. As the choir travels, they are impacting the Maasai with a comprehensive message of hope and transformation, and their recordings are going even further afield – their first album, Sauti Ya WaMaasai (The Sound of the Maasai) was released in Tanzania in 2007 and internationally in 2009. Now in 2011, their second album, The Hope of the Maasai (Matumaini Ya WaMaasai) is bringing their music to many more ears. You can buy their music today from Pamoja Ministries, iTunes, or CD Baby.
The Photobook
You’ve heard their music, now picture their lives. Pamoja Ministries and MAPED present the “En-kata, A Time for Singing” photobook, packed with the colour and life of the Maasai communities. “En-kata, A Time for Singing” is a window to a world you’ve never seen – the world of the Maasai. We’ve all heard about the problems facing Africa, and they are very real, but in this book you’ll also see the beauty of Africa – the faith of Africa – the future of Africa. You’ll even get to be a part of the solution to one of the problems. 60% of the profits from this book will be used to build a school in one of the most remote areas of Simanjiro, Tanzania. Over 1500 copies have already been sold. Don’t miss your chance — Buy the book today!
The School
Education is a basic component of development which has been almost completely missing in Maasailand. The remoteness of their villages, coupled with the cultural differences between the Maasai and their Bantu neighbors, have put the Maasai at a severe disadvantage in a developing world.
Now MAPED is building a school with the proceeds from the sale of the “En-kata, A Time for Singing” photobook and generous donations from churches and people like you. As you read this blog, you’ll see where we’re at with the construction of the school and learn more about how you can be involved.
On Tour
The En-kata Choir are touring in North America in 2012 and 2013. These are our third and fourth tours, building on the success of the 2009 Faces of Change tour and the 2011 Hope of the Maasai Tour.
Pamoja Ministries is discipling cultures through media, and on behalf of everyone involved in the En-kata project, thank you for becoming part of our story.
