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"A people denied history is a people deprived of dignity." Ali Mazrui, Kenyan scholar

Ole Kolii Paul

The Maasai are well known for their proficiency in beadwork. The traditional dress and adornments of the Maasai are incredibly beautiful. However, there are very few Maasai painters.

Ole Paul was an extremely prolific painter and at one point I counted 12 paintings sitting on Unik Gallery's shelves. Needless to say, these paintings sold quickly as he is a very sought-after artist.

His use of watercolors to create a dramatic three dimensional landscape is unique. This detail shows a light touch, as well as an interesting use of colors (a purple-trunked acacia?).

Unfortunately, Ole Kolii Paul recently passed away from the scourge of Africa: AIDS. As is the case with art, African or otherwise, his demise has taken his paintings to a new level as there are now a limited number of his paintings available. My wife recently returned to Nairobi and came across a small cache. These will be the last paintings of this incredible Maasai artists. His keen eye and ability to translate the beauty of Maasailand onto watercolor paper will be missed.

Look below the paintings to learn about the Maasai people and the land they possess that Ole Kolii captures so beautifully.

If you like Kolii Paul's style, you might be interested in the artist Wasike. They are very similar.

Update: 19 July '09 - I know you're thinking that we must be hoarding these paintings, but you're wrong! On Standard Street there is a little gallery that is not known for paintings, but for odd-ball trinkets and souvenirs. I happened in there one day and was talking to Wambui, the store proprietor. I told her I'm always on the prowl for paintings - she winked at me asked me to follow her to a stash that has sat under a table for years. I was covered in dust and ash. I got filthy, but lo and behold - five incredible undiscovered Ole Kolii Pauls (in protective plastic)!

Title: Two Kudus Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 14.5" x 11" (37 x 28cm) Price: $240	Title: Samburu-Council of Elders Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 15" x 9.5" (38 x 24cm) Price: $240	Title: Sunrise Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 14.5" x 7.5" (37 x 19cm) Price: $200
	Title: Under Acacia Tree Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 21.5" x 7.5" (37 x 19cm) Price: $360 Sold! 8 Sept '09 She says this painting 'evokes wonderful memories'. Thanks Maureen!	Title: By the Watering Hole Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 14.5" x 11" (37 x 28cm) Price: $240 Sold! 13 Dec '11 She took advantage of the holiday discount! Send me your TT images! And thanks Diane!

Update: 10 March 2008 - We have discovered two more Ole Kolii Paul paintings. Just fabulous!

Title: Samburu Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 14.75" x 11" (38 x 28cm) Price: $235 SOLD! October 2nd 2008- Thanks!	Title: Elephant Family on the Move Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 12.5" x 9.5" (32 x 24cm) Price: $185 SOLD! Thanks Heather! - April 21st 2008

Update: 15 January 2007 - I have just added these five paintings from Ole Kolii Paul. Enjoy!

Title: One Under the Tree Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 14.75" x 7" Price: $210 Sold! 10th Feb 2009 to a wonderful client in Barrow Alaska-Thanks!	Title: Facing Mount Kenya Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 12.5" x 9.5" Price: $180 SOLD! March 17th 2008-Thanks!	Title: Facing the Ranges Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 12.5" x 9.5" Price: $180 Sold! 28 Apr '11 - She made an offer I couldn't refuse. Thanks Jill!
Title: Grazing by Mount Longonot Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 16.25" x 8.5" Price: $210 Sold! 4 Dec '08 - On its way to Canada. Thanks Alina!	Title: Father and Son Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 12.75" x 7.75" Price: $160 SOLD! 4th Aug 2008 - Thanks!	Title: Kudu Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 11" x 7.5" (28 x 19cm) Price: $180 SOLD! March 31st 2008-On it's way to Malta !

25 September 2006: Somehow, someway, I found some more Kolii Paul's in Nairobi town. The owner of the gallery had them inside and deep under a counter. He had no idea of their value. I'm guessing these are the last of Kolii Paul's paintings that will ever be available.

	Title: My World Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 21.5" x 14.5" (55 x 37cm) Price: SOLD! November 2006-Thanks!	Title: Mt. Kenya Scape Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 15" x 9" (38 x 23cm) Price: OLD! 24 September 2006-Thanks!	Title: Mt. Kilimanjaro Scape Medium: Watercolor on paper Dimensions: 11" x 7" (28 x 18cm) Price: OLD!  10 October 2006-To a collector in Singapore..  Thanks!

The paintings below are sold!

Title: Maasailand 1 SOLD! She picked the perfect gift!	Title: Maasailand 2 SOLD! 1 May '04 - It might be on a calendar!	Title: Maasailand 3 NOT AVAILABLE-A Rarity	Title: Maasailand 4 SOLD! -28 May '03-To a friend in Chile. My first sale in South America!
Title: Maasailand 5 SOLD!  Feb. '05-The last one is in the USA's capital, Washington, D.C.	Title: Maasailand 6 SOLD! -28 May '03-To a friend in Chile. My first sale in South America!	Title: Maasailand Large SOLD! Her husband likes it as much as she does!

                                                                                        Learn more about the Maasai
The Maasai are the local tribe of Nairobi, Kenya. With the until-recent lack of rains in Maasailand, it was not unusual to see a Maasai herding his cows and goats through the city. This parade of cattle can cause quite a traffic snarl. When asked why he is tying-up the traffic, he responded by asking, "Is this not my land?"

Not only an incredibly proud people, the Maasai are also highly skilled at adorning themselves with intricately beaded items from head to toe.

The Maasai people are a tribe who live partly in southern Kenya but mainly in northern Tanzania. They range from Lake Turkana down through Ngorongoro. Currently there are 377,089 Maasai but the population is declining fast. This disappearance is mostly due to a clash both economically (farming) and culturally with the advancing Kenyan and Tanzanian peoples. One quarter of the Maasai people have already been converted to Christianity. The rest still follow the traditional religion. The traditional Maasai religion worships cattle and evolves around the God of the sky,  Engai, or more commonly Enkai. To the Maasai any pursuit other than a pastoral one is considered demeaning to Enkai. The Maasai feel that each new  day is a significant change in their lives.

 The Maasai got their name after their language; Maa. It is an African language that has no written form. The Maasai have four age grades: junior warrior, senior warrior, junior elder, and senior elder. The Maasai men can marry once they reach the senior warrior age group. This age lasts for about fifteen years. Once a person has been a senior elder for around fifteen years, they are eligible to become the Oloiboni, tribal leader, soothsayer, priest, and prophet.

One aspect of the Maasai that is unique is their application of red ochre all through their bodies and hair. The women of the tribe wear many coils around their necks as well as some on their arms. The Maasai, both warrior and elder alike, wear earrings through the large loops in their ears. The Maasai are nomadic most of the year; following the herds and rains across the Serengeti/Maasai Mara area. The Maasai live in kraals, small huts made out of clay and cow dung clusters. The women are treated as equals of the men in the Maasai culture. They are the ones who make the kraals. The village children are content to simply play games with pebbles, dung, and berries. One of the traditional rites of passage for Maasai boys and girls becoming a junior warriors is a customary circumcision ritual.

For food, the Maasai eat mostly meat. Their drink mainly includes the milk and blood of the animals. The Maasai are very much like the Native Americans in that they have a great respect for their food and feel that they need to use all of the animals that they have slain. The following parts are used these ways: its urine is used for medicinal purposes, the dung to plaster and seal their houses, the morn is used to make containers, the hooves for ornaments, and the hide for everything from clothing and shoes to bedding. Often times, a Maasai warrior will go out armed with nothing but a spear to kill a lion.

A few Maasai have turned to cultivation and grow maize and barley for Kenya Breweries. Although some of the Maasai traditions are being washed away by "western" customs, many of their traditional practices still are being utilized. Unfortunately, these customs may not be continued if their population continues to be diminished.

Compiled by Scott Sanderson