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A Samburu boy pauses from herding his cattle to watch the research team at work. Once the boy reaches a certain age he will be circumcised and will enter manhood as a Samburu warrior or ‘moran’. This is still a valued and important part of Samburu culture and tradition. Through a custom known as Olpiroi or ‘firestick’, the previous generation of morans become responsible for the next, guiding them into manhood. During this time, the young men head off into the wilderness with the other warriors. They learn self respect, strength and courage, perseverance and comradeship, becoming heroes in the eyes of the elders and youth. The final coming to age arrives some years later when they are finally married, at which point they become the newest addition to the circle of elders in the community, and in turn they become responsible for the next generation of morans passing down a firestick through the ages, in a tradition that is central to the entire society.