Kenya’s Maasai ‘Warriors’ Campaign for Healthy Lifestyle by Playing Cricket (PHOTOS)

The Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa saw a strange cricket match over the weekend as the Maasai Warriors played cricket in their traditional attire, a red colored shuka worn wrapped around the body.

Known as Warriors for their active involvement in social campaigns, the African ethnic people took up cricket as a tool to spread awareness about healthier lifestyles and HIV/AIDS amongst youth, Reuters reported.

The Maasai people are a semi-nomadic group thriving in Kenya and northern Tanzania where they are considered role models for their campaigns against various cultural practices, such as female genital mutilation and early childhood marriages.

Their lifestyle was proved exemplary for climate change when aid agency Oxfam in its 2008 report, Survival of the Fittest, said that how the survival skills of Maasai people could help Africa adapt to changes in climate.

The Maasai people have been actively fighting to eradicate discrimination against women in their communities.

The Maasai cricketers have been invited to play in the Last Man Stands Twenty20 Championship in Cape Town, South Africa, later this month. However, lack of sponsorships has cast doubts over their participation.

Check out below the pictures of these people playing cricket to create awareness.

A member of the Maasai Cricket Warriors team catches the ball during their friendly match in Mombasa

Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

A member of the Maasai Cricket Warriors team catches the ball during their friendly match against the Jaffery's team in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa March 17, 2012.

Olengais, captain of the Maasai Cricket Warriors, plays a shot during their friendly match in Mombasa

Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

Sonyanga Olengais, captain of the Maasai Cricket Warriors, plays a shot against the Jaffery's team during their friendly match in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa March 17, 2012.

Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

Members of the Maasai Cricket Warriors prepare for their friendly match against the Jafferys team in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa, March 17, 2012.

Ole Mamai of the Maasai Cricket Warriors and his teammate Ole Ngais run between the wicket against the Jaffery's team during their friendly match in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa

Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

Daniel Ole Mamai (L) of the Maasai Cricket Warriors and his teammate Christopher Ole Ngais run between the wicket against the Jafferys team during their friendly match in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa, March 17, 2012.

Kenya’s Maasai ‘Warriors’ Campaigns for Healthy Lifestyle Through Playing Cricket

Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

Jonathan Ole Meshami of the Maasai Cricket Warriors plays a shot against the Jaffery's team during their friendly match in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa March 17, 2012.

Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

Daniel Ole Mamai (L) of the Maasai Cricket Warriors and his teammate Christopher Ole Ngais run between the wicket against the Jaffery's team during their friendly match in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa March 17, 2012.

Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

Jonathan Ole Meshami of the Maasai Cricket Warriors plays a shot against the Jafferys team during their friendly match in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa, March 17, 2012.

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