A young Maasai woman sprints over the finish line, and a crowd erupts in cheers. She is the latest participant in the “Maasai Olympics”, reimagining a traditional coming-of-age rite.

It was song and dance as the much-anticipated Maa Cultural Festival commenced at Sekenani, Narok County on Monday. The four-day festival will bring together 12,000 members from 18 Maa-speaking ...