Senior Chief Lukwa and the Gathering of Guardians
Senior chief Lukwa, adorned with his local beads—a symbol of his role as a peace campaigner, shared stories of unity and resilience.
Kenya-In the vast savannah of Amboseli, where the earth stretches out like an endless canvas, a gathering of esteemed traditional leaders from East and Southern Africa took place, writes Mohamed Hussein.
Clad in their magnificent traditional regalia, the elders, including the highly respected Senior Chief Felix Lukwa of Kasungu, Malawi, brought with them not just their attire but also centuries of wisdom and a deep connection to their land.
Senior chief Lukwa, adorned with his local beads—a symbol of his role as a peace campaigner, shared stories of unity and resilience.
The leaders, who hailed from diverse communities, sat close to each other in a room that echoed the weight of their collective experience.
Hours were spent discussing not only the challenges they faced but also the remarkable solutions they envisioned for harmonious human-wildlife coexistence.
These traditional leaders play an indispensable role in their communities, where they act as conduits for transparent and collaborative processes deeply rooted in indigenous culture, norms, and values.
"Between them, these local leaders represent well over 100,000 people who live alongside wildlife," emphasised Azzedine Downes, the President and CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), who led this extraordinary gathering.
The meeting marked a pioneering opportunity for these Chiefs to engage in candid discussions about the real-life challenges their communities confront and explore innovative solutions to pave the way for successful human-wildlife coexistence—a concept deeply ingrained in their heritage.
IFAW, which supports projects across the region with strong community engagement components, champions the Kitenden Community Wildlife Conservancy in Amboseli.
This unique conservancy follows a land lease wildlife conservation approach, securing vast wildlife habitats from numerous landowners.
"Our intention is to stop poaching, support communities, and rescue, rehabilitate, and release animals back into the wild," emphasised Downes.
The approach also provides clean water to leased lands, encourages tourism investment through conservancies, and enhances local infrastructure.
One of the standout voices in this gathering was Senior Chief Felix Lukwa of Kasungu, Malawi.
He proudly shared how IFAW had partnered with the communities to replace the fence at Kasungu National Park, a fence that had been destroyed by poaching.
Lukwa's words resonated with pride as he spoke of the positive results: "We are feeling good because animals are crossing from Kasungu National Park to Rwanga National Park in Zambia.
This is due to the strong working relationship between traditional leaders in Zambia and us in Malawi."
Chief Lukwa also highlighted the vital role of knowledge exchange: "We are really learning from our friends here in Amboseli, Kenya. We are teaching our communities what crops not to cultivate—crops that are attractive to animals like maize and groundnuts."
As the meeting continued, the underlying message was clear: Natural resources belong to the entire continent, and it is the duty of all to protect and preserve them.
Azzedine Downes, CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, remarked, "This is the Africa we want. Having traditional leaders sit and share ideas on how to protect life and wildlife is at the heart of the 'Room to Roam' initiative."
He stressed the importance of these conversations taking place where they matter most, here in Amboseli, where the leaders could witness firsthand the incredible work done by IFAW alongside rangers and the vital role of elephants in mitigating climate change.
In the backdrop of the Amboseli landscape, where the wilderness unfolds in all its glory, these traditional leaders carved a path towards a future where humans and wildlife could coexist in harmony.
Their stories, rich with history and emotions, painted a vivid picture of a shared commitment to preserving not only the land they walk on but also the lives they cherish.