The Namuncha primary school has a very successful dancing and singing group. The group often performs Masaai music, poetry and dance at local and national music and dance competitions. 

Maasai dancing is unusual in African dance because they do not use drums. Before the mobile phone, the kudu horn was used to warn and communicate. It is still used in the dance routines. Rhythm is through words, and movement.

Maasai teachers have been writing new words to traditional chants and dances for the children of the community to perform at competitions and more importantly at community events. Through the children’s voices and the traditional melodies and dance steps, the message about the harm from female genital mutilation, early marriage, the need for a full education and environmental sustainability.

The lyrics and poetry reinforces messages about the values of education, the brutality of female genital mutilation, the cruelty of early marriage, environmental concerns and general messages about being and staying healthy.

The dancing and singing group promotes values that have inspired the local community and its young men and women. 

Your donations help the dancing and singing group inspire as many people as possible. The money you give helps pay for the group’s: 

• dance costumes and adornments (made locally) 
• jewellery (made locally by mothers and some of the children)
• transportation to events by bus 
• food and accommodation 

Ruth Mckechnie is the owner of Attitude, a dance shop in Cambridge. She runs the Theatre train group in Cambridge East and have adopted the Namuncha dance and singing group as their charitable cause. 

So far, they’ve raised an incredible £754 from their dance presentations in the past year.