Warriors : Can cricket really bring change to the Maasai region?

Warriors is a documentary following a group of young Maasai who, in a remote region of Kenya, have remarkably formed a cricket team. They relate the sport to their traditional hunting techniques – the ball is the spear, the bat is the shield – and their flowing red robes in full flight are an awesome sight. The film whose executive producer is Englands leading wicket taker Jimmy Anderson, follows the team as they pursue their dream of reaching England, the home of cricket, and test themselves in the amateur Last Man Stands World Championship.

But there is a darker heart to the story. The Maasai are male dominated, women have few rights – even to their own bodies – and girls as young as six have suffered Female Genital Mutilation and early marriages. Traditional practices such as these have also contributed to the spread of HIV/Aids, and now many believe the future of the Maasai is under serious threat. The Warriors cricket team are using their new-found unity on the field as an inspiration to those off it, attempting to educate and give young people a sense of belonging, support, and hope. However, they face resistance from the elders of their community – well-respected and wise men who hold all Maasai traditional practices dear and carry great influence. They fear losing any of their traditions will herald the end of the Maasai. Can cricket really bring change to the region?

“They play cricket, sleep cricket, dream cricket, and drink and eat cricket every day”

In contemporary cricket, the rise of Maasai Warriors can be compared to only Afghanistan’s. They took giant strides in the world of cricket despite having no infrastructure, kit, or exposure to quality cricket. These stories and others really demonstrate the power of cricket and its ability to change the world, for the better. Flicx was developed off the back of the apartheid era in South Africa as a vehicle to bring people together through sport (Read More)… our roll out, portable pitch enabled new facilities to be created and the game to grow. We were pleased to hear recently that a Flicx Pitch was donated to the Maasai Warriors cricket team by the British Army and you can see footage in the Warriors movie trailer …. we have heard other remarkable stories from around the world with cricket being used to bring peace to regions such as Israel and how cricket has changed so many lives for the better. (Read More)

This is the true value of sport and we look forward to watching the Warriors film – you can find your local screening by visiting the website  www.warriorsfilm.co.uk