Chairman of Virgin Atlantic, Sir Richard Branson, has stimulated tourism in Kenya and has been honored by the Maasai. Branson experienced an Ipayiani ceremony, and has been proclaimed an ‘Elder’ by the Maasai.

Below is an article written by Fred Oluoch published by The East African Standard:

The Maasai Mara Game Reserve, has received a major image boost following a high profile visit and undertaking by the Virgin Atlantic chairman, Sir Richard Branson, to ensure a steady flow of visitors to the world famous tourist destination. 

Sir Branson also anointed Sarova Mara a “Virgin Territory,” signifying that most frequent fliers with Virgin Atlantic to Nairobi are likely to visit the Mara as the ultimate tourist attraction.

“Maasai Mara is Kenya’s business card, and the fact that Sir Branson and his group chose to stay at the Mara is an added advantage to Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve,” Sarova Hotels Group operations director, Dilip Puri said. 

Sir Branson, who spent most of his time in Kenya at the Maasai Mara after the Virgin Atlantic made its maiden flight to Nairobi on June 2, participated in a number of activities that were, however, hidden from the prying media and the public.

But Puri, is excited that the Sir Branson’s entourage of more than 100 among them media personalities and celebrities from the United Kingdom, chose to sample Kenya’s hospitality by staying at the Sarova Mara tents. 

Earlier on, Sir Branson had estimated that the entry of Virgin Atlantic — that is coming to offer competition to the national carrier, Kenya Airways and British Airways on the London-Nairobi route — could boost the country’s tourism industry by as much as $100 million in tourist visits. 

The Virgin Atlantic team hired the entire 75 Sarova tents for the various activities that included a sundown cocktail and bush dinner at the newly built “boma.” The team also visited Sekani Primary School, an institution that also serves as a rescue centre for young girls escaping female circumcision. 

Mr Puri was, however, cagey on how much money Sarova made from the visit, which he described as the “most significant” programme ever organised by the Sarova Group, “You must expect that we made good returns after working on the programme since January,” he said.

But the climax of the visit was the anointment of Sir Branson as a Maasai elder in a ceremony known as Ipayiani, which, according to the Maasai, is reserved for people who brings wealth to the community. 

The Ipayiani ceremony is undergone by an individual — not of the Maasai community — who has been identified as being worthy of being adopted as an elder. It means becoming a Maasai Elder or joining the College of Elders in the Maasai community. 

There are three categories in which one can be adapted as an elder: if one has mature sons and has come of age and is respected; if one has benefited the tribe or brought them wealth and prosperity — in the past this was in terms of cows; and, if one is a laibon, that is, a medicineman or a soothsayer.

The ceremony involved being dressed in a special attire presented by the community elders, being given instruments of elderhood, which the community must decide upon, and being blessed by the oldest of the elders.