The Maasai Culture & People

Is it your first time to hear about the Maasai culture? Or have you heard but not known their history, Social setting, Architecture, Cuisine, Economic activities, Dress code, Music, Art, and craft, or the reason for their fame? Here is what you need to know.               

The Maasai culture is one of the oldest cultures in the world, found in East Africa in the countries of Tanzania and Kenya. These are a collection of zealous men and women who understood their ancestral wish and have upheld their practices to date. Hunting, cattle keeping, and music define their day to day living which is uncommon with several cultures that have dropped their unique identifiers, and adjusted to the patterns of the modern world. No jewelry, spear, or red rope; Maasai seizes to exist.

The Maasai who belong to the Nilotic ethnic group have their ancestry originating from South Sudan and occupy the entire great lakes region. History shows that their movement was from the Nile valley north of Kenya’s Lake Turkana around the 18th century, evading the villages on their way and looting property, grabbing land as well as adopting certain practices such as Circumcision when they stayed for a given period and interacted with the natives of the place.

In the 19th century, there was an expansion of the Masai population which covered up the entire Great Rift Valley and part of the adjacent mount Marsabit. Their cattle raiders used clubs and spear to attack those with cattle thus creating fear wherever they went.

In 1852, a group of Masai warriors was reported heading towards Kenya and settling around Mombasa in 1857. From 1883 through 1902, the massive expansion of the Maasai people was brought to a halt by an epidemic known as rinderpest and smallpox which claimed the lives of both cattle and people.

Forward to 1904 and 1911, a treaty between the Maasai and British people was signed and saw approximately 60% of the Masai land taken for the construction of settler ranches, and Game reserves such as Lake Nakuru national park, Masai Mara national park, Samburu national park, Amboseli national park, Tsavo national park, Nairobi national park, Amboseli national park, and Serengeti national park thus displacing millions of the warriors to very less fertile land.

The Masai people live in Narok, Laikipia, and Samburu in the northern part of Kenya, and others can be found in northern Tanzania. Their language is Maa, related to Kalenjin, Nuer and Dinka languages; though often speak Kiswahili and English for the educated ones, and welcome visitors to witness their cultural performances. They are known for their strength and cattle rustling. 

Their solidarity enabled them to stand against and defeat the slave trade; an inhuman act that saw several Africans die in the hands of a few heartless individuals who wanted cheap labor. No trader dared the Masai who condemned the practice with one spirit. They also protected their crops and cattle against wild animals such as lions which were roaming in search of prey.

Only those with many children and cattle were considered to be rich. Mature men made main oral laws that were adopted by all group members, and failure to do so attracted punishment which was always by cattle.  The Maasai had over 22 sub-tribes such as the Samburu, Siria, Dalalekutuk, puko, Laikipia, and Larisa among others, with a different dialect, leadership, appearance and customs.  Men married many women who constructed for themselves houses.

Both young men and women underwent circumcision as a sign of transition to adulthood, though it is fading because of the activists who condemn it as evil and inhuman. After the circumcision ceremony, men stay in separate Manyattas set for them until recovery.

Their rite of passage ritual is decorated by killing a lion which differs from one tribe to another. The Masai have two pillars; rook kiteng, the black cow, and Odo Mongi, the red cow with five clans. Ol Doinyo (Mountain of God) is traced at the end of northern Tanzania, and Lake Natron in southern Kenya.

Religion

Religiously, the Maasai People look up to a small-god called Laibon who is responsible for healing, prophecy, and prediction, especially in times of war, rainfall, good harvest, calamity, and any other happenings. Of recent, they have also adopted Christianity and Islam.

The Dead

With the Maasai, no ceremony is held when a person dies, but rather, the body is left out for the scavengers to feed on. Those rejected by scavengers are believed to be having a problem, so they are soaked in blood and fat. Burials were left for only the great chiefs.

Food and Beverages

All that Masai knew was their cattle since that’s what their lives depended and considered all cows in the world as theirs. They eat meat and drank blood and milk; not until recently when they have added rice, potatoes, millet, cabbage, and sorghum.

Music, Dance and Drama

 The Maasai people mastered the art of music and will continue to perform while given chance.

Both men and women participate in the singing by clapping, thumping the ground, jumping, or blowing the horn. Their rhythm is traditional with 100% local content and led by an expert (olaranyani) who will sing the melody.

The leader starts with a line then other people reply while maintaining the same rhythm.  Their women love singing lullabies, praising songs, and whining songs.

Most of the dances are around the Manyattas, with young men forming a line and chanting to the beat, whereas girls stand in front of men, with their sharp-pointed breasts, so close but don’t touch. As the sound of the songs and handclaps turn vigorously, the footsteps are heard from a distance due to the energy used by the warriors as they jump up and down in cycles.

In conclusion, Masai people are very warm who strive to make every visitor happy and know them. They are still authentic and take visitors through a series of stories, cultural dances, and demonstrations. You visit them sad and return smiling.