Facing the Lion

Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna

By: Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton, Herman Viola

Narrated by: Kevin R. Free

Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton is a Maasai tribesman of Kenya. In this fascinating autobiography, he shares stories about growing up in his nomadic tribe - from licking sweat off cows’ noses to survive a drought, to facing down a lion at age 14, to playing soccer for the president of Kenya. The only member of his family to receive a formal education, Joseph sometimes lived as much as 40 miles away from school. While at school, he learned about Western culture and traditions. A member of two very different communities, Joseph struggled with what he was taught and what he already knew. But eventually, he learned to balance two worlds.

Hailed by Children’s Literature as a "superb book for any age", Facing the Lion is a riveting tale of one man who took his destiny in his own hands and became an extraordinary citizen of the world.

©2003 Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton with Herman Viola (P)2008 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"An intriguing portrait of a remarkable life and a culture little known to most American readers." ( Publishers Weekly)

"What gives this short, readable book its power is Lekuton’s authoritative, intimate view of now and then." ( Booklist)

It was Excactly What WeNeeded

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

My husband and I are going to Kenya next week to volunteer in a dental clinic which serves the Maasai tribes. This was very useful information for us to help us to understand the people we will be serving. It was simply told but wonderfully human in its revelations of the relationships and activities of the tribes. My only regret is that I would like to know where the author is today and what he is doing. It ended too soon.

Took me back to my trip almost 30 years ago

What a trip down memory lane! I could picture it the story clearly! Loved it!!

The traditions of African people

I liked how he explained everything in detail about how he grew up. The dangers he faced growing up around such vicious man eating animals.

Entertaining

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It had a nice pace good plot. It was the ideal bedtime story.

Just lovely

I hate it when it ended, because it was just so lovely - must read if you're going to Kenya.