The Masai are among the most well known of African ethnic groups, due to their distinctive customs and dress. They are also known by the remarkable appearance of the Masai warriors, with their red clothing, beadwork jewelry, and magnificent hair dresses. The Masai reside near many of the famous game parks of East Africa.
History:
According to their own stories of origin, the Masai originated from the lower Nile valley north of Lake Turkana (Northwest Kenya) and began migrating south around the 15th century, arriving in a long area of land stretching from northern Kenya to central Tanzania between the 17th and late 18th century. Many ethnic groups that had already formed settlements in the region were forcibly displaced by the incoming Masai, while other groups were assimilated, over time, into the Masai society. Today, the Masai occupy a total land area of 160,000 square kilometers with a population of approximately one half million people. The part of the tribe that stayed in Northern Kenya, is now known as the Samburu tribe.
Lifestyle and Culture:
The Masai are a semi-nomadic people who live under a communal land management system. Traditional Masai lifestyle centers around their cattle which constitute their primary source of food. The movement of livestock is based on seasonal rotation. The measure of a man's wealth is in terms of cattle and children. A herd of 50 cattle is respectable, and the more children the better. A man who has plenty of one but not the other is considered to be poor.
The women are responsible for making the houses as well as supplying water, collecting firewood, milking cattle and cooking for the family. Warriors are in charge of security, while boys are responsible for herding the livestock. During the drought season, both warriors and boys assume the responsibility for herding livestock. The elders are directors and advisors for day-to-day activities.
Shelter/Housing:
Because the people are primarily nomadic, the Masai have traditionally relied on local, readily available materials and indigenous technology to construct their housing. The traditional Masai house is designed for people on the move and thus is very impermanent in nature.
The Inkajijik (houses) are either star-shaped or circular, and are constructed by the able-bodied women. The structural framework is formed of timber poles fixed directly into the ground and interwoven with a lattice of smaller branches, which is then plastered with a mix of mud, sticks, grass, cow dung and human urine, and ash. The cow dung ensures the roof is water-proof.
The enkaji (hut) is small, measuring about 3x5 m and standing only 1.5 m high. Within this space the family cooks, eats, sleeps, socializes and stores food, fuel and other household possessions. Small livestock are also often accommodated within the enkaji.
Villages are enclosed in a circular fence (an enkang) built by the men, usually of thorned acacia, a native tree. At night all the livestock is placed in an enclosure in the center, safe from lions and other wild animals. Traditionally, kraals (villages) are shared by an extended family. However, due to the new land management system in the Masai region, it is not uncommon to see a kraal occupied by a single family.
Religion:
The Masai are monotheistic, and they call God, Enkai or Engai. The belief is that this one deity has a dual nature: Engai Narok (Black God) is benevolent, and Engai Nanyokie (Red God) is vengeful. The central human figure in the Masai religious system is the "laibon" who may be involved in: healing, worship, prophecy, and ensuring adequate rainfall. Whatever power an individual laibon has is a function of personality rather than position. Many Masai have become Christian, and to a lesser extent, Muslim.
Myth:
One myth about the Masai is that each young man is supposed to kill a lion before he is circumcised. Lion hunting was an activity of the past, but it has been banned in East Africa. Lions are still hunted when they maul Masai livestock, and young warriors who engage in traditional lion killing do not face significant consequences. Increasing concern regarding lion population has given rise to at least one program which promotes accepting compensation when a lion kills livestock, rather than hunting and killing the predator. Nevertheless, killing a lion gives one great value and celebrity status in the community killing predator.
Diet:
Traditionally, the Masai rely on meat, milk and blood from cattle for protein and caloric needs. People drink blood on special occasions. It is sometimes given to the weak and sick. Also, on a regular basis drunken elders, use the blood to alleviate intoxication and hangovers. Blood is very rich in protein and is good for the immune system. However, its' use in the traditional diet is waning due to the reduction of livestock numbers.
More recently, the Masai have grown dependent on food produced in other areas such as maize meal, rice, potatoes, and cabbage. The Masai who live near crop farmers have engaged in cultivation as their primary mode of subsistence. In these areas, plot sizes are generally not large enough to accommodate herds of animals; thus the Masai are forced to farm. This practice is traditionally frowned upon. Masai believe that tilling the land for crop farming is a crime against nature. Once you cultivate the land, it is no longer suitable for grazing.
The Masai are a fascinating and colorful people
Sources:
1. http://maasai-association.org
2. "Masai of Kenya" http://masaikenya.wordpress.com
Robert Reeves - Business entrepreneur, freelance writer, and novelist. Over 25 years of business writing experience.
