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The Maasai are an indigenous African tribe of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania, are probably one of the most familiar tribes of East Africa. Despite the growth of modern civilization, the Maasai have largely managed to maintain their traditional ways, although this becomes more challenging each year.
Culture
The ability to graze their cattle over large territories has diminished considerably in recent years, due to increased urbanisation and the declaration of the Maasai Mara and Serengeti game reserves, which was all formerly Maasai grazing land.
Despite their reputation as fierce warriors, Maasai culture revolves around their cattle. One of their spiritual beliefs is that their rain god Enkai gave all cattle to the Maasai people, and therefore anyone else who possesses cattle must have stolen them from the Maasai. This has led to some fatal altercations with other tribes of the regions over the centuries when the Maasai attempt to reclaim their "property". The huts of the Maasai are built from dried cattle dung, and their milk and blood are prime components of the Maasai diet.
There are numerous traditions and ceremonies performed by Maasai men. Perhaps best known is the warrior "jumping" dance, where young Maasai morani (warrior-youth) leap into the air from a standing position, in order to demonstrate their strength and agility. Until recent times, in order to earn the right to have a wife, a Maasai moran was required to have killed a lion. Officially this practice has stopped, although there is evidence that it continues in the more remote regions of Kenya. Also in earlier times a group of young boys were required to build a new village and live in it for a lengthy period (often years) as part of the passage to manhood. This practice is dying out due to lack of land.
Unlike many tribal cultures, Maasai women have a strong voice in their culture. The women are responsible for the building of the family hut or Manyatta. Maasai women are easily identified by their bright clothing and beads, and the removal of one of the bottom teeth (for both sexes). Circumcision is performed on both sexes, with the elder men circumcising the teenage boys (who are not permitted to make a noise during the ceremony), and the elder women circumcising the teenage girls. Attempts by the Kenyan government to stamp out female circumcision have failed. There are Maasai women who defend the practice and they also have their ears disked. Maasai are not farmers but nomad pastoralists.
External links
- Drought in Maasailand
- "Masai — A Unique and Colorful People", from Awake! magazine
Photographs
- Africa on the Matrix: The Maasai — Photographs and information
Масаи | Massai | Massai | Masai | Masaïs | Масайтæ | Masai | מסאי (שבט) | Wamaasai | Masaï | マサイ族 | Masajowie | Масаи | Maasait
"Maasai"