Leading batik artist Nicholas Sironka is on a three-month working tour in the United States. Leading his Sironka Promotions, Sironka left Kenya two weeks ago to showcase Maasai rhythms and cultural mystique through song, dance, story-telling, exhibitions and workshops on the making of Maasai artwork, and lectures.

Unlike most communities in Kenya, the Maasai traditions and culture have remained largely unchanged with sons and daughters living like their ancestors did hundreds of years back. Yet, it is felt, the former reap bountifully from the latter's culture while having renounced their own. It is on this premise that informed Maasai like Sironka are feeling their people should benefit from their own African ways.

The Maasai may be less than one million people (400000 people, actually), yet their contribution to the East African nation's cultural heritage has no comparison their modest size notwithstanding. This is what Sironka Promotions appear to be harping on in the West. Some aspects of Maasai culture are gradually becoming national symbols in Kenya. There being no national dress, for instance, the Maasai costume has come close to becoming Kenya's national dress; it features prominently at international and national beauty, tourism and cultural events.

At university graduation ceremonies, it is not uncommon to see non- Maasai women donning the colourful blue, red and white Maasai dress and matching bracelets, beadwork and headgear. The dancers who entertain tourists are usually clad in Maasai attire. Wildlife, too, is portrayed roaming freely with Maasai tribesmen standing on one leg and leaning on a spear while looking after their livestock. Isn't this reason enough for Sironka to only celebrate but showcase Maasai culture to the world?

Sironka, who taught and lived in Whitworth College, Spokane, Washington state on a Fulbright scholarship in 2001, says the idea of forming Sironka Promotions to introduce the Maasai culture fully to the international community came from his experience as a scholar-in-residence.

As soon as he returned to Kenya, Sironka embarked on a musical film on the Maasai which, however, is yet to be completed. When it is done, it will be the first film of its kind in the country. Sironka says he wants his people to benefit from their culture from which Kenya reaps bountifully by associating it with tourism, films and other aspects of the country.

"Many places in Kenya derive their names from the Maasai language. They include Nairobi, Naivasha, Kijabe, Eldoret, and Gilgil," he says. Sironka Promotions was formed, to quote Sironka, to demystify filmmaking and make casting more transparent. He contends that his goal is to ensure that films shot in Kenya will are also screened locally besides being taken abroad. "We are casting people to discover and nurture talent instead of stifling it by confining film to a few people. Whenever there is any casting for a film, only a few privileged people know about the auditions. This is doing our country and countrymen disservice," he says, adding that instead of merely complaining about how wrongs things are going he corrects them wherever and whenever he can.

When Sironka watched the film Saikati and realised it did not portray his Maasai culture 'accurately', he says, he offered to be culture consultant on its sequel, Saikati the Enkabaani. He has starred in Karanja the Suffering Alcoholic by Ukweli Video Productions, and Tough Choices feature by Good News Productions International.

While he taught batik and Maasai lifestyle paintings at Whitworth, his wife Eunice Seleina taught beadwork. Sironka, second born in a family of three, attended schools in Kericho, Nakuru and Kitale before studying accounts at Nairobi's Universal College. His entry in the field of art can be said to have been accidental. "I ventured in art as a hobby but soon found myself doing lots of freelance illustrations for magazines like Health Digest and Drum before I was hired by Images magazine. When the quartely wound up, I moved to Jacaranda Designs as a director," he says. It was while here that his career blossomed with Mcheshi Goes to School children's book winning a prize at the Pan-African Children's Bookfair in Zimbabwe, and the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature in Kenya. Although without a degree in fine art, graphics, design or culture, Sironka has taught in an American university because of his talent.

And it is largely from this background that he is building on to promote his culture among Americans. Sironka's colourful and poignant batik art highlights the changing Maasai lifestyle. It can be found in galleries and private collections in South Africa, Kenya, and the United States. He says he steers clear of 'souvenir' art because it stereotypes the Maasai and Africans.

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