on the characteristic of Maasai society, according to Tepilit Ol e Saitoti‟s book The
Worlds of a Maasai: An Autobiography states Maasai warriors are known for their arrogance. If the white man had hit
the warrior the latter would have killed him there and then. People were afraid of what might happen. The warrior said,
“Mikiwosh ake aluayoni lengare
” “You‟ll be sorry if you hit me, you water youth”. The white man, sensing the warrio
r‟s seriousness, simply ordered him to leave, which the warrior did proudly.p.34
In the above quotation it shows clearly that Maasai warrior are arrogant,
they show little though to other people. They are proud warriors and pay less attention to other people. Especially towards the white man, the Maasai warrior
can eventually kill a white man if they were being cornerd. Maasai warrior known to be arrogant is for their status as a warrior, they show essence of superiority.
Their status as warrior makes them having a high position, the white man dare not to challenge the Maasai warrior to a fight. The same goes to Kariankei, he is a
famous warrior and pays less attention to what his son Lerionka have in mind.
b. Proud
In the beginning of the story Kariankei is seen with his son Lerionka. They are talking about continuning Sururu‟s legacy. Since Lerionka is Kariankei‟s
only son, so he should know his family especially Kariankei‟s. My name is Kariankei. My father‟s name is Ole Sururu. My age group
Iltalala called me Osokoni, meaning that my actions were bitter, like the fruits of the tree called osokoni. Yes, Osokoni, very bitter, I could
fight........ p. 3.
Kariankei is proud of his youth days, he seen to be feared among his own age group. Until he is given the name Osokoni, a name of a fruit which is bitter. It
appears that he used to be a strong fighter in his youth. He fought a lot when he was young, that is why he is given the name Os
okoni „a man of bitter actions.‟ In the Maasai society when a boy had been circumcision and graduate
from childhood, Then they are really for the next stage of their life moranhood or warriorhood. This is the stage where they will learn cattle raiding, war tactics and
hunting strategies in instructed by senior warriors.
c. Disciplined
Kariankei is a disciplined father. His teaching to his only son is quite harsh. He teaches his sons the history of his clan and the tradition of the Maasai
culture. Even though his teaching to his son is harsh, he trully cares about the well being of his son though he may not show it since he is an old man with pride.
He is considered discipline, what he says is final. There is a word for people like Kariankei in the Maasai language called olaiguenani which means a
chief. He is like a chief making decision on his own account. „I wish my father could understand that,‟ i said
„He could, but you don‟t speak to him.‟ „Fathers are not the same. My father is like olaiguenani what he says is
final. Your father listerns to opinions. My father says i will go to Arusha tomorrow and it is final. I will go not because i want to but because i do
not have any choice. p. 46
Kariankei decides to send Lerionka to Arusha instead of going to school. He believes that Lerionka will be safe in Arusha, he made that decision without
the concent from his son. Since his son Lerionka could not decide whether he agrees or not to go to Arusha.
