Written by: Dr. Naomi Kipuri (For English translation see her great book: Oral Literature of the Maasai)
Netii apa, netii kuna ayiok are naag’ar menye. Naa kenyorra apa kuna ayiok imeor toki. Neyeu ng’otonye enkayioni nabo neeku enkaini e ng’otonye naing’orita. Naa keisho apa ena tasat, naa keiba ena ayioni neme enenye. Ore kuna ayiok naa ninche pokira oopuo inkishu anaake. Neeta apa kuna ayiok inkishu naadas dama tenetir esumash. Naa keisho ake obo peyie eidip atadasa, neipotoki olikae menyaaki sii ninye adas nerrinyo olikae inkushu. Naa kejoro apa kuna ayiok “enkoipapaai” tenkaraki nang’ar menye.
Neton apa ake ena tasat adamu eneiko kuna ayiok peyie meitoki aanyorra, nelaikino. Nejo toltau lenye, “ekaing’oru enaiko peyie aar ayioni metua.” Neisho nabo olong’, nejoki ena ayioni enye meshomo shoo ore teneipir enkolong’ neshukunye ang’ metabarno. Nelo enkayioni shoo ore peyie eipir enkolong’ neshuko ang’ metabarni, neok kule, paa kerrinyo inkishu. Ore ekenyu anaa taisere, neitoki entasat ajoki ena ae ayioni pee elo sii ninye metebarni teneipir enkolong’. Neisho ake etioyo enkayioni, netur enkumoto nagut oleng’ tedukuya erruat. Ore peyie elotu enkayioni nejoki, “Shomo sii iyie dukuya iyau olmurunya maatabarno.” Nejo enkayioni airrapirrapu olmurunya nedoiki enaduo kumoto. Neiteleiki entasat enkumoto osoit sapuk nelo aing’uaa. Neenyu enkayioni olikae te shoo ejo ake kelotu, o memuto. Nereu ninye inkishu ang’ ejo ebaiki neeta esiai naibookoki olikae.
Ore peyie ereu enkayioni inkushu ang’ teipa nelo aing’oru olikae. Ore peyie elau nelo aikilikuan ng’otonye. Nejoki ng’otonye, “Oi atabarno ake ninye nanu nelo shoo.” Neing’oruni apa ena ayioni, ore peyie elai neji ebaiki neinosa ng’uesi tiang’ata. Nepalari olorere.
Nebiki apa omeidurri tenapa ang’ nepeji olmuate. Ore peyie esha, nelengu ene wueji apa netii ele muate oleng’. Ore edaa inkishu nelo ninye atonie ele soit apa opising’are ena kumoto natii olalashe. Neeta apa kuna ayiok osinkolio orany teshoo teneaku kedas inkishu. Neton ake ena ayioni tele soit, nedamu olalashe. Neiteru arany ilo sinkolio:
“Enkoipapaai ai e nanu
Eituyupuyupakitia ntampin e papa
Enkoipapaai ai e nanu
Nemadas ilki linono
Enkoipapaai ai e nanu.”
Ore ake peyie ening’ idia ayioni natii enkumoto olikae erany, neirukoo sii ninye ajo:
“Enkoipapaai ai e nanu
Tadasa sere sere mikintotio
Enkoipapaai ai e nanu
Tadasa sere mikintotio
Amu ng’utunyi apa naatipika enkumoto.”
Ore peyie ening’ enkayioni neng’as ajo kentim nairukoo. Neitoki ake arany. Nejo inining’o ‘nening’ ajo ekeeta eneing’ua ilo toilo. Nejo aitoki ainining’ nening’ ajo abori osoit otonita ening’ore ilo toilo. Nejo aiwuang’ie osoit nedol olalashe. Neitayu. Einosa apa inkulukuok nemuta ilkarash, naa penyo nedolisho meitieu aing’ura enkolong’. Neisho enkayioni olikae olkarasha obo, nelepoki inkishu. Neisho metang’asa alopu inkulukuok paa keisho kule metooko. Nerik ang’ teipa.
Ore epuo inkayiok ang’ teipa, neinosaki ena ayioni apa natii enkumoto olikae eneikunaka ng’otonye enkumoto. Negoro olalashe oleng’ amu meitanyaanyukie apa ele alashe likae tung’ani. Neisho ake peyie edol ajo etaa kebaya ang’ neii eremet metipija. Neisho ake peyie ebaya ang’ neng’as aing’oru ng’otonye. Neng’or ake neye teine. Nelo aing’oru menye aliki enetaasa. Neipoti ilpayiani aaliki. Neji akaae. Nebik inkayiok pokira meeta inoong’otonye.