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EPISODE
GUIDE |
TRIBAL ODYSSEY
Every Monday @ 11:00 PM HK/SIN
This Tribal Odyssey collection of three episodes is based
upon character led stories told in their own words. These
are real stories about real human dramas, containing narratives
repeated throughout every human community in the world.
In the film the viewer has a strong sense of 'presence'.
You feel that you are actually there and that the stories
and relationships that intertwine with the characters
are familiar even to Western audiences. The three primitive
people in this series are the Dinka, the Hamar and the
Wodaabe. |
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THE HAMAR
Monday, 3 March @ 11:00 PM HK/SIN
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THE WODAABE
Monday, 10 March @ 11:00 PM HK/SIN
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THE POKOT: THE PATH
TO MANHOOD
Monday, 17 March @ 11:00 PM HK/SIN
In the vast and arid Northern territories of Kenya live
the Pokot people. Known and feared as fierce warriors
and cattle rustlers they are in constant conflict with
their tribal neighbours. The Pokot remain isolated from
the outside world, and continue to follow their ancient
traditions and secret ceremonies. Each year during the
short rains, they hold sacred Sapana initiation ceremonies
for their young men. A boy must have his ceremony if he
wants to join the ranks of his elders and become a warrior.
Lomali is 22 years old, and has not had his ceremony yet.
He is overdue, but his family cannot afford the great
expense. A few years ago his father died, and the family
herd of 85 cattle was rustled by neighbouring tribal enemies,
leaving his family destitute. Luckily a family friend,
Chief Joshua steps in and donates a camel and grain for
brewing traditional beer needed for the ceremony. Lomali
and his family rejoice as better days are on the way.
Lomali's friend, 19 year old Shokon is also ready to have
his Sapana ceremony. He faces none of the hardship of
Lomaili, as his father is rich in cattle and has eight
wives and 18 children. As a ranking elder in the community,
Shokon's father decides to combine Shokon's Sapana with
Lomali's, so that they can share the experience. The weeks
pass, and Lomali and Shokon attend many local ceremonies
and dances where they meet potential wives. The day of
the Sapana ceremony breaks with heavy rain, and both Lomali
and Shokon must each sacrifice their own camel with a
spear and have its intestines read and their future foretold
by a soothsayer. Shokon's reading is trouble free, but
Lomaili's future shows a possible death. He is devastated
and must kill a goat to help cleanse the bad news. The
boys must then strip naked, and have their animal's stomach
contents smeared over their bodies as their elders chant
blessings in a men's only sacred grove. They will spend
several hours covered in green slime, as they are transformed
by ritual prayer and rites into men. This ancient ceremony
has many surprising rituals, and moving song and dance.
By the end, Lomali and Shokon are considered warriors,
and are free to marry. The next hurdle for Lomali will
be to find and afford a wife. (Two days after his Sapana
ceremony, Lomali's prediction came true. He was bitten
by a snake, and almost dies.) |
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THE LAST DANCE OF THE
WARRIORS
Monday, 24 March @ 11:00 PM HK/SIN
Seven young warriors - and best friends - from a small
village in Kenya are about to go through the most important
ceremony of their lives. Their Eunoto ceremony will transform
them from glamourous, long haired, carefree warriors to
serene, bald, elders within a space of five days. Once
they graduate from their Eunoto ceremony, the warriors
will give up their lives of freedom, settle down and get
married and take on the responsibilities of Maasai elderhood.
They'll also give up the songs and dances of warriorhood,
that defines the lives and spirit of the Maasai people.
22 year old Korisa and his best friend, 23 year old Mushiri,
lead their friends through the final month of warrior
hood, and on to the long journey to their Eunoto Ceremony
over 200 kilometres away in Tanzania. Korisa and Mushiri
are philosophical about their upcoming change in status.
They have spent seven good years as warriors and are looking
forward to the next stage in life. But Mushiri's younger
brother Kupente and his best friend Toto, are both only
18 years old, and can't believe their youth is almost
over! With mixed emotions, all seven warriors travel together
on foot to the ceremonial site where 900 warriors from
the Salei Maasai will gather on a sacred mountain to perform
secret and ancient rituals. The Eunoto ceremony includes
two days of the red dance. Glistening with red ochre,
they will dance the red dance, a tribute to the fiery
temper of the Maasai warrior. Then comes two days of white
dance, where the warriors dance painted in white chalk,
as they are transformed into elders. White is the colour
of non-violence, peace and elder-hood. Driven by intense
emotion, the Eunoto moves to its climax when all 900 warriors
run around the sacred Osingira hut, where only warriors
who have not slept with older women are allowed to enter!
Will any of the seven Kenyan warriors be allowed inside?
As the ceremony concludes, the long tresses of all 900
warriors are shorn off by their mothers - amidst tears
and trembling - and are then blessed into the new generation
of Maasai elders. Spend the final month of warrior-hood
with the seven warriors from Kenya as they dance the final
dances of warrior-hood, reveal their inner most thoughts
and share cultural secrets, all while they undergo the
most important ceremony of their lives. This ceremony
is the largest Salei Maasai Eunoto ceremony to ever take
place and the first to be recorded by a film crew. |
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RENDILE: DEATH AND REBIRTH
DURING THE CYCLE OF THE MOON
Monday, 31 March @ 11:00 PM HK/SIN
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