BACKGROUND TO SAMAHANI:
Tanganyika of the 1950’s was quintessential Africa. Within its borders dwelt a hundred and twenty different ethnic groups, from the fierce Maasai – untouched by modernization – to the coastal Swahili of Zanzibar, a unique African-Arabic civilization dating back more than a thousand years. It is home to Africa’s highest mountain, deepest lake, and largest caldera, and has one of the last great stretches of untouched wilderness in the world, allowing millions of animals to roam free as the bison once did in Northern America.
The novel is a mixture of fiction and fact. In the 1950’s ecologists fought long and hard to preserve the wildlife of East Africa. To do so would require them confiscating land being utilized by the Maasai people for the grazing of their huge herds of cattle. To this day, the Maasai fear for the future of their culture due to this land deprivation (Refer to the web article at the end of my synopsis).
Samahani takes no sides but, instead, allows the reader to be the judge.
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Please note that the commonly used word “Masai”, as spelt by the British colonialist, was incorrect.
The accurate spelling is “Maasai”, accepted by anthropologists and the present day Maasai people
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SAMAHANI – a Romantic Thriller
Set in Africa during the Colonial era of 1957, SAMAHANI is a sweeping African saga.
Open SAMAHANI and ride the waves of romantic intrigue, ecological disputes and land rights issues. It is a story of forbidden love, of one man’s burning desire to save the wildlife of Africa – creating an ecological apartheid if need be – and of another man’s single-minded quest to save his tribe from the destructive colonial policies.
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CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Alex Trevenen:
Islander from Réunion, whose deep love for a white South African is tainted by two words stamped on his passport, nie blanke, non-white”, for Alex is of mixed blood. What Alex doesn’t realise is that everyone has their secrets and the colour of one’s skin can sometimes pale in comparison to the skeletons hiding in a family’s cupboard… especially the Harrington family.
Megan Harrington:
A passionate conservationist coming to terms with her “true self” as opposed to the person society has moulded her into. Having done so, will she continue to suppress her deep feelings for long time friend Alex Trevenen in order to pursue the more socially acceptable Professor Roger Morrison? An option that won’t see her ostracised by society, ousted by her university, or made persona non grata in the country of her birth. Or will she continue to deny her heart, because society demands it?
Tumaini:
A university educated Maasai, Machiavellian in his quest to save the Maasai culture from British colonial policies and land grabbing ecologists. Satyagraha was Gandhi’s way but passive resistance is not a warrior trait and not acceptable to him, for a fierce hatred of the British has him attributing none of the blame for his tribes dying way of life to the tribes arrogant disdain of a changing world. Or even to acknowledging he is driven by the fanatical purposes of his grandmother.
Professor Roger Morrison:
Head of Research at UCT, in Cape Town, his single-minded resolve to oust the Maasai cattle from the Ngorongoro Crater has him jepodising the love of a beautiful woman to serve his old masters. It is a carrot too tempting to resist – Ngorongoro Crater, free of Maasai, if he brings them “Aaron”.
Hartley St Claire:
Owner of the largest wildlife sanctuary in Southern Rhodesia, discovers truth in the old adage: “a man in debt is caught in a net” when he approaches the wealthy Arab, Ahmad As-Salih, for a loan. Hartley has been offered the safari of a lifetime but little does he realise that As-Salih will do anything to get his hands on Hartley St Claire’s “special” client.
Jack Harrington:
Australian by birth, he has hidden his past from his family for 27 years. On arriving in Tanganyika, to investigate incidences of sabotage at Shelalago Mine, of which he is a director, and, in particular, to ascertain the involvement of his protégé Alex Trevenen, Jack is faced with his past in a most unexpected manner. The outcome of which could have him trialled for murder.
Pieter de Lange:
A handsome Afrikaner, with a streak of mischief and a no-nonsense approach to life, has Megan Harrington taking an instant dislike to him as he knowledgeably challenges her theories on wildlife conservation. All too soon he is probing her deepest conscience, not only questioning her beliefs on wildlife but on issues of the heart. Then Pieter finds himself in a race against time to save Megan Harrington, not only from herself, but from the dangers she disregards with such blatant foolishness.
Reviews:
Kerry Lane
Tutor, ghost writer and author of several published novels wrote:
“I congratulate you on your talent and skill. You are an excellent writer and you have the potential for a fine career ahead of you”.
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Lynne Wilding
Author of six mainstream novels:
“Firstly, let me say that I think you are a skilful writer, with a well-developed technique and capable of good, interesting characterisation. The pacing was good and the dialogue effective”.
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The Manuscript Appraisal Agency:
“The author has a fluid, simple style, which I found very easy to read. She certainly does show real writing talent. I am surprised this is a first book. It is a competent, impressive, polished piece of work that I would happily recommend to anyone as a satisfying read.….”
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Driftwood Manuscript Services:
“The manuscript has a clear, well-paced and satisfying plot, with rounded, interesting characters. It is full of suspense, which is unusually well-handled. The reader cares strongly what will happen to the characters and turns the pages to find out….”
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Our ancestral land is under threat…
A Voice from the Community
“…If Oloirien is gone, elsewhere will also go.”
Kuyiaa loo Namayiai
The land struggle among the pastoral Maasai of East Africa, remains a critical phenomenon as more land is demanded by the ruling class for commercial farming operation.
Oloirien land is located in Southeastern Maasai-land in the Merrueshi scheme. Oloirien comes from the name of a widely used native tree that resembles ebony wood. For hundreds of years, the Maasai people of the Irkaputiei section occupied this land. In the 1900′s, British colonizers attempted to gain control of this land by renaming it “Chulu National Park.” However, the Maasai’s strong tribal authority of elders and its fearless Morrans (warriors) of that time prevented the British colony from grabbing this land for its own use. In 1995, the Kenyan government renamed this area “Makueni division” in an attempt to wrestle control of this land away from the Maasai.
Oloirien land is a highly vegetated and rich with volcanic rock formation from the eruption of Oldonyio Sampu. According to my forefathers, this land was known as Enkop Enkiteng or “the land of cattle.” It is a land where all varieties of savanna grasslands grew. Throughout the centuries up to the present, the Maasai of the Irkaputiei section as well as those of Irkisonko, Irmatapato, and Irkankere sections migrated to Oloirien land particularly during droughts, it was a place where we sought refuge for our livestock. Under Maasai tribal land management, Oloirien land was left fallow so that vegetation could rejuvenate.
Oloirien is also a land of herbs. Eighty percent of our traditional medicines are found on this land. Oloirien, Oltimigomy, Ormukutan, Enkitaru, Osiyiamalili, Oiti, Olderkesi, Oltiamuai, Oloisuki, Iseketet, Iloodwa, Enkitaru, Olchurai, Oremit, Oreteti etc. all are found in the Oloirien land. Many of these plants and trees can not be found anywhere else but here. These medicinal trees and plants are used to treat human illnesses as well as cattle diseases. Oloirien is the heartland of the Maasai.
The Maasai are hoping that the Kenyan government will recognize and respect Maasai way of life and include them in discussions being held regarding the Oloirien land. The Maasai are also seeking help from international organizations in the rescuing of their land.
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