The Maasai Tribe of Kenya

“Maasai” is a linguistic term that refers to speakers of the language most commonly referred to as Maa, which forms a part of the Nilo-Saharan language family. Broadly, this includes the Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania, the Samburu and the Arusha and Baraguyu tribes of Tanzania. In this article however, we will be focusing to the distinctive Maasai tribe.

The origins of the Maasai people can be traced back to the Nile Valley in the Sudan, which they left to move southwards around the 15 th Century. As they settled in Kenya, the Maasai became famed and feared for their prowess with a spear and throwing cubs (orinka), enabling them to dominate considerable swathes of land and raid huge numbers of cattle.

By the mid-18 th Century, the Maasai had taken over some of the most fertile land in Central Kenya and their dominance reached all the way to the Tanga Coast in Tanzania. However, in the early 20 th century, British troops drove them from these areas through military force and treaties. Huge sectors of land were appropriated by British and German administrations and, as a result, the Maasai lost about two thirds of their land and were forced to relocate to less fertile regions of Tanzania and Kenya.

The Maasai people are among the great tribes that have retrained their traditional way of life most significantly. The Maasai live a semi nomadic, pastoralist lifestyle, which influences everything from their dwellings to their diet. Nature is at the centre of Maasai life, even the timing for relocating and building a new homestead is influenced by nature, in this case termites eating the wood of the huts.

Built in a circular or loaf-like shape, the huts (known as manyatta) are constructed from woods, grass, mud and cow dung by the women of the tribe. Inside, the hut is split into two rooms, one with an earthen stove, which is used for cooking and sleeping, and the other for housing cattle in order to keep them safe. The huts are built within a larger kraal, which consists of a large circular thornbush fence (enkang), usually housing four

to eight families. this forms a village, known as a “boma” and it is not uncommon for several bomas to join together.

The Maasai people are traditionally monotheistic and their god is named Engai or Enkai, who is considered to be a benevolent deity and is associated with various colors. For example, black and dark blue, found in thunder and rain, brings grass and prosperity, while red is indicative of lightning and dry season, which brings famine. The Maasai believe that cattle was bestowed upon them by Enkai and it therefore holds a highly sacred place in their society.

The Maasai people are considered to be mostly egalitarian, meaning everyone is seen as equal, however they are still highly patriarchal. The men are broken up into age-sets, which lasts for the lifetime of its members. Between the ages of 14 and 30, male Maasai are known as Moran and live in isolation in the bush where they learn tribal customs, and develop their strength, courage and endurance. The Maasai people are highly regarded for these traits, they are able to move up in rank (each of which lasts around 15 years) from junior to senior warriors, and junior to senior elder, who are trusted to make decisions for the tribe.

Wealth in the Maasai is determined by the number of cattle and children a man has, and many have multiple wives. Cattle are central to life for the Maasai people as their diet mostly consists of meat, blood and milk and fat, as well as honey and tree bark. They drink both fresh and curdled milk, which is served in a calabash and sometimes mixed with fresh cow blood. Skins are used as bedding and to make furniture, cow bones are used to make tools, and dung helps insulate the walls of the homes. It is only relatively recently that Maasai tribes have begun supplementing their diets with crops like maize, rice and cabbage.

Around 1960s, the Maasai began replacing sheepskin and cattle hide clothing with what is known as Shuka, bright red or plaid cloth wrapped around the body. The Maasai are also famed for their intricate beaded jewellery, which can hold varied meanings based on the color and the pattern. Prior to trade with Europeans, natural resources like clay, wood, bone, copper and brass were used to make jewellery and today, it is mostly made from glass. The making of jewellery is seen as a woman’s job within the Maasai tribe, ear piecing and earlobe stretching is also a major part of body ornamentation in the Maasai Culture and stretched earlobes are seen as a symbol of wisdom and respect. Men and women have their heads to celebrate rites of passage as it represents a fresh start, while only the Maasai warriors are allowed to have long hair, which the wear in thin braids.

Music is used to mark special occasions and rites of passage within the Maasai, they don’t use instruments, except for large horns in certain songs, and instead their music is made up of rhythms created by a chorus of vocalists singing the harmonies while a song leader (Olaranyani) sings the melody. The result is a striking sound, supplemented by the jangling of beads as they jump and dance. The adamu or “Jumping dance” is one of the most well-known aspects of the Maasai Tribe and something most visitors look forward to witnessing.

During this ceremony, which usually marks the transition from Junior to senior Maasai Warriors, the men gather away from the crowd, their shouts and pounding feet punctuating the air. As they approach the gathered group, young women launch into song and the men take a time, swapping out when they believe they have achieved their highest leap in an effort to win the affection of a woman.

These celebration can last for several days and offers members of different villages throughout the region a chance to meet and assemble together.

On a visit to the Maasai Village you are led by a Maasai guide, you enter the village, learning about the layout and construction of the huts, before being introduced to members of the tribe. During your time at the village, you will hear about daily life, learn how to light a fire in the traditional way and may even be invited to enter one of the huts. Also it is likely that you have the chance to see the “Jumping dance” in action and even give it a try yourself, don’t expect to do nearly half as the warriors who have been training for years