14+Cows+for+America

** 14 Cows for America ** by Carmen Agra Deedy and Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah



In June of 2002, a very unusual ceremony begins in a far-flung village in western Kenya.

An American diplomat is surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed on the American men, women, and children, and he is there to accept it. The gift is as unsought and unexpected as it is extraordinary.

A mere nine months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely from American and Maasai as these legendary warriors offer their gift to a grieving people half a world away.

Word of the gift will travel news wires around the globe. Many will be profoundly touched, but for Americans, this selfless gesture will have deeper meaning still. For a heartsick nation, the gift of fourteen cows emerges from the choking dust and darkness as a soft light of hope and friendship. Master storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy hits all the right notes in this elegant story of generosity that crosses boundaries, nations, and cultures. An afterword by Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, the Maasai warrior at the center of the story, provides additional information about his tribe and their generous actions. Thomas Gonzalez's stunning paintings, which are saturated with rich hues of oranges and browns, and blues and greens, capture the modest nobility of the Maasai people and the distinctive landscape of the African plain.

Learn About the Maasai:

**The Maasai Association**. Learn more about Maasai way of life-schools, clinics, ritual ceremonies, view photos and slide shows, and learn about donating a goat or cow to a Maasai family.

African people and Culture-the Maasai

**View** the following video clip: media type="file" key="Maasai hero 120909.mp4" width="238" height="241" align="center"

**About the 9/11 Attacks (Video)**