Written by: Dr. Naomi Kipuri  (For English translation see her great book: Oral Literature of the Maasai)

Netii apa, netii ele murrani oota inkutukie are. Naa entim namanya. Naa sidai apa ele murrani enenking’asia. Neeta ilpapit, enkoriong’ ebaiki enchada. Ore nabo olong’, neing’oru iltualan, neeniki ilkeel paa tenening’ iltung’ana nejo inkishu natii ilmong’i naadaa. Neeku kemanaa tentim aisulisho anaa oltung’ani oirritisho.

Ore nabo olong’, neponu ilmurran ooreuta olkiteng’ opir oleng’. Netoni aamanaa tentim aing’oru olchani sidai oitaa olpul. Ore epuopuo, neinepu ele murrani etii enkiti wueji neisiaja nalamita penyo ene wueji nening’ore iltualan. Neirorokino taa, “Supa olmurrani!” – “Ipa!” “Supa olmurrani!” “Ipa!” “Keninono nene kishu naaning’o iltualan?” Nejoki ele murrani, “Ee ninche nena naadaa tenkalo e kuldo tepes adoru paa ketim ine imeimayu.” Keniyie – ng’ieng’ie olkiteng’ ing’oruru?” Nejoki ilmurran, “Ee”. Nejoki ele murrani, “Kolpul oisira iyieuu anaa kolooliatuani?” Nejoki olmurrani, “Ai! Olosira osidai pee etoni ilmurran aapeipeenore”. Nejoki ele murrani ilkulikae: “Entotoni taa tene matang’asa alo aleenoo olotii ene tenaa kesidai peyie alotu aliki intae”. Netoni ilmurran. Neituruk ele murrani alo aoroki ilkulikae olpul. Neor aoroo iloik apa looltung’ana pooki oinosa. Ore peyie eidip, nelotu arik ilkulikae. Neinepu ilmurran olpul leme esidano eeta. Nesisini eneirragi, nesotuni ilkeek, ore peyie eidipi neyieng’i olkiteng’. Neishori oladuo murrani osarge o enkiring’o nanya. Neng’amu ake nelo aigara ilkeek anya. Neen ilpapit tenchumata elukunya peyie etum aishoo inkutukie pokira.

Ore einosita, naa keisho ake ena kutuk natii empiding’ peyie enya olmurrani enkiring’o nejoki: “ Nchooki maalikio”. Neigil, “Loolgirgir”, neng’amaa enkae ajoki, “Laitondolie”, “Nechooki maalikio”. Nenang’aki. Nejo neijia ometumuta enkiring’o. Neisho olmurrani obo neleliari alo aing’or edaa nedol ajo enkukuu. Ore peyie eidip nejoki ilkulikae looleng’ amu etaa enalo airrita inkishu.

Neisho ele murrani duo otadua, nelo ajoki ilkulikae metisipu ilo murrani amu eng’ues. Neining’asia sii kuna kishu naa nebo ade edaare memuto. Kake eitu eiruk ilkulikae. Nejo olmurrani obo, “Oi emoda ilbarnot, olmurrani sidai aikonji ilo ajo eng’ues!” Neanyi ening’i.

Ore ake peyie eaku kewarie, neirura ilmurran. Neisho ele duo murrani otadua olikae edaa nelo aked shumata olchani otii embata olpul. Ore ake peyie eitorito enkewarie nelotu omurrani ele pul otii ilmurran. Neiken, “Obo, aare, okuni, oong’uan….isiet! Ooudo duo kulo murran, koree olioudo?” Neitoki ake aiken nera isiet. Nenya pokira isiet. Ore ake peyie edol oladuo murrani otii enchumata olchani neirut oleng’. Neureyu airisha. Nedou maakutiti tolchani, neisik alo ang’ alikioo.

Ore peyie ebaya ang’ nelikioo pooki natadua. Nening’oruni kulie murran isiet oiriamariyie ele murrani enapa wueji. Neishop ninye ele murrani enkila narok, neitong’ojinuo, negil enkong’u paa kerik ilkulikae. Ejo peyie meyiolou olmurrani oota inkutukie are. Nepuo ometabai enapa wueji netii olmurrani.

Neinepu olmurrani tenapa wueji. Nirorokino taa anaa oshi ake. Neikilikuan ele murrani ilkulikae, “Kolpul oigisa iyieuu anaa kolooliatuani?” Nejoki ilmurran, “Olosira osidai peyie etoni ilmurran aapeipeenore. Neng’as alo aoroo iloik paa kelotu arik ilkulikae.

Ore ake peyie eidip ilmurran eyiang’are neisho olikae osarge o enkiring’o.

Neiko anaa oshi ake, nelo aigara entim, neen ilpapit tenchumata elukunya peyie etum aishoo inkutukie pokira endaa. Ore peyie eidip, nejoki ilkulikae sere paa kelo. Etoduaa taa ilkulie kuti murran edaa. Neisho ake ilmurran peyie elusoo, nedung’u ilkeek sapuki, neitoosh olkereri tendapash, neitoip toolkarash. Neaku ijo iltung’ana oirura. Nepuo ninche aisudori.

Ore peyie eaku kewarie, nelotu olmurrani oota inkutukie are. Neiken iladuo keek oimulumula ejo ninye kelmurran, nera ooudo. Nejo: “Elulung’a taata”. Ore enoshi kata ejo tabolu oledukuya neishimakini iremeta. Ore etaa keye nejo: “Oi atayiolo duo ake, egil enkong’u megil, neitong’ojinuo meng’ojine!” Nejoki ilmurran metudung’o olkimojino sapuk aitayu iltung’ana apa pooki oinosa. Ore peyie edung’i nepuku iltung’ana pooki onkishu pooki apa nainosa. Neishunye enkatini teine.