Hello! I’m Happy Loketo, farmously known as Enjimaasai. I’m from a nomadic Maasai family in Iringa Region, a city in Central Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Like many nomads my father is polygamous and has three wives, my mother being the first wife. We’re a big family of 21 siblings, eight of which are my mother’s.I’m pleased that we all love and respect each other till today.

Like many other African nomads, the Maasai also limit girls with access to education and self-independence. Until today, some Maasai girls aged 13 are denied of their right to education and are married off to benefit their fathers with dowry in cows. Traditionally, a Maasai girl is to be married with a Maasai man otherwise considered as a family disgrace if she marries a Non-Maasai man and gets expelled from the family. As soon as a man of any age offers the parents with a significant number of cows then the future of that girl is tied to the man, regardless of the girl’s age.  

Due to a missing spark for education in my community, my two elder sisters and one brother have never gone to school. Finding pastures and water for the cattle was the priority. A light in the tunnel shone around 1995 when my father started sending children to school. My second brother had his chance and later I got mine. School was 7km from home and it was that way every day for seven consecutive years come rain come sunshine but it was worth it.

After Primary School, some of the children and I were lucky to get the sponsorship from an American Project aiming to support Maasai children at the time. We went to a boarding Secondary School for four years and finished on 2009. I knew that if I go back home it will be the end for me so I decided not to and applied for college. My late brother accommodated me for a few days before I went to my eldest brother in another city. I helped him with chores while waiting for college admissions. Fortunately I was selected but my brother and I didn’t have any money for fees and upkeep and couldn’t ask from my father. Knowing that my brother wouldn’t let me go to college without money, I lied to him that I got sponsorship and want ready for college. My brother gave me about $150 and I travelled to Mwanza for college. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy but I had hope!

A girl, alone and away from home. I arrived in Mwanza at midnight and lodged into a guest house. The next day I went to college, motivated and eager to study.  I attended my classes while residing in the guest house for two weeks. I went broke and had to seek help from few friends I made and they took me in. I attended classes without sitting for exams since I wasn’t fully registered due to unpaid fees.

I once got a chance to visit Dar-es Salaam and sought for help from different organizations in churches and any other place I could. I had aired interviews with East African Television and many people promised to donate but they didn’t. I borrowed some money from one of my friend and started making beaded ornaments and shoesfor selling while still asking help from people. 

One colleague told me I could find help from a white woman in Tanga who was helping girls to have access to school. I made up my mind to find this woman anyhow. I remember one day I woke up at 3am and I made my way to the bus station to Tanga hoping to find the woman. I had only the fare and TZS 10,000 (around $5). I took the bus via Arusha, slept in the bus for the night and reached Tanga in afternoon. I asked tirelessly anyone I met for the woman knowing she’s my only hope. Later one motorcycle guy told me that he knows of a place here white people reside, maybe I could get information about the woman I was seeking.

Meeting Ruth Nesje, the director of Tanga International Competence Centre (TICC) , a Norwegian based social business, gave my life a turning point. She took me in whole heartedly, funded for my education and offered me a Procurement Officer Position for five good years. I will forever be indebted to her compassion. 

I kept designing on spare time while employed and a year laterlaunched my brand “Enjimaasai”. I opened my store and business skyrocketed. I got a chance to showcase the Swahili Fashion WeekThe Swahili Fashion Week since 2017, then showcased the JargaArt and Fashion Weekend in Oslo for three times. I have been nominated for awards three times and have been invited two times for the New York Fashion Week 2021 but due to Covid-19 I didn’t make it.

I have been a successful fashion designer and made connection both Tanzania and Europe . I’m very grateful when I look back at the helpless young me and acknowledge the struggles that made the new me, now living two different cultures in Tanzania and Europe.

I met my boyfriend Bruno Perriaux a Frenchman who came to work for a pipeline project in Tanga Tanzania. He has shown me so much love and would want to spread the love to my people.  Bruno is an Engineering Geologist but also likes to work in construction and due to that we both find it easier to use what we have by helping Maasai Women. 

In my village I am the second one after my late brother to go to higher education. Every time I visit home,all the kids who are still studying look up to me wish they could also make it. I always wished to help them and now it’s the time. The women’s from my village, their lives and their children’s are a big inspirational of my life.

I invite everyone to join hands and support the incredible women of my village  we are starting by rebuilding a new church.