At loitokitok in rift valley province, the maasai, who are nomadic herdsmen whose diet had traditionally been only beef, have started farming recently. Maasai people speak the maa language, which is related to dinka and nuer. Maasai men are born and raised to be warriors, while the women spend most of their time learning to cook, clean, prepare food, and other duties they are expected to perform. The masai are a semi nomadic people with a reputation of being a fierce warring tribe. Africans regard culture as essential to their lives and future development. The pastoral maasai occupy arid and semiarid rangelands in southern kenya and northern tanzania, collectively known as maasailand. Women are responsible for building and maintaining the houses as well as fetching water, collecting firewood, raising the children, milking the cattle and cooking for the family. Culture of the maasai tribe of kenya and tanzania 1035 words 5 pages. English and kiswahili maasai society has several ceremonies to mark the passage of various stages in life maasai. Maasai people are often viewed as a nomadic tribe who follows their herds to better grazing lands and water. Because the maa society does not have a clear written history, it is difficult to say precisely where it originated. Maasai identity in the 21st century uwm digital commons. Critical democratic pedagogy through the arts in indigenous. However, many maasai see the national census as government meddling and often miscount.
They are forced to suffer hunger and physical pain. In addition to the maa language, maasai speak official languages of kenya and tanzania. The maasai people have acted as the historical stewards of the land and wildlife of the amboseli ecosystem for centuries. From a very young age, boys are trained to become a great warrior and an excellent herder. Maasai people of east africa fighting against cultural. Jul 26, 20 performing the adamu the jumping dance performed when a circle is formed by the warriors, and one or two at a time enter the center to begin jumping while maintaining a narrow posture, they stand tall and slender in somewhat stylish long ochredyed hair with shuka attire red sheetlike material with hints of other. The maasai has received the most written recognition of all the tribes of this region of africa and prove to be very interesting to study. Kenya is an iconic african safari destination and home to the maasai tribe.
The life of a maasai woman maasai girls education fund. Just one generation ago, less than 20 percent of maasai women in kenya enrolled in school. Some of their customs include rhinoceros games, fancy earrings, beading, and scarification. The laibon or spiritual leader acts as the liaison between the maasai and god, named enkai or engai, as well as the source of maasai herblore. Male dominance in maasai culture is enshrined in myths and folktales see folklore. The average maasai man owns at least 15 cows, which means that they are some of the wealthiest people in kenya. Maa around 1 million hard to take census of 16 sections of people 3. The study explored ways in which changing land use and tenure coupled with rapid population growth had affected the livelihood of the maasai. Documentation of maasai culture unesco dar es salaam.
The masai tribe is a popular and unique tribe because they have preserved their culture for quite too long compared to other tribes. Young boys are sent out to take care of calves and lambs and to. Maasai culture and its accompanying traditions compose one of the most wellstudied anthropological systems in the world. George monbiots book, however, used in the chapter of former. Traditional inheritance and burial rites of the maasai. This is exactly what maasai wilderness conservation trust does. By wearing the plaits, it proves the individual is a true morani sticking to their own traditions. The maasai may fear losing their children to western schooling, but a modern education has increasingly become a necessity for the maasai in order to remain competitive with their neighbors. Maasai is essentially a linguistic term, referring to speakers of this eastern sudanic language usually called maa of the nilosaharan family. The maasai are an indigenous ethnic group in africa of seminomadic people settled in kenya and northern tanzania. Although the farming is practiced only in a part of the tribe, we interviewed them about their past traditional lifestyle, the reason to start.
Associate professor, university of new hampshire, usa the maasai are a wellknown ethnic group around the world. In the 1550s they moved down along the nile from sudan and egypt and brought with them knowledge on agriculture and cattle breeding. Margherita is a freelance writer from milan, italy. The maasai sometimes spelled masai people compose one of the many diverse tribes of africa, occupying much of southern kenya and northern tanzania. Embracing the culture of the maasai people in tanzania. Pdf the history of the maasai moves, land alienation and resistance in. Maasai culture maasai society is patriarchical in nature with the elders deciding most matters for each maasai group. Preamble as you depart from the kenya airport for the outside world, you will notice the big billboards advertising mobile phones with a maasai man balancing on one leg, and in full moraan gear, looking greater than the greatest. This migrational wave experienced a peak during the 18th century. Maasai are a nomadic community in kenya still upholding traditional and has a high rate of child undernutrition. Therefore, the facts have been studied critically and with caution. The maasai have been viewed by many as the iconic, traditional representation of africa.
The maasai warriors colorfully paint themselves with ochre and bravely carry spear and a distinctive ballended club. Only the mountains do not move, by jan reynolds is a quick but interesting look into the storied culture of the maasai tribe who dwell in northern tanzania and southern kenya. Maasai tribe masai people of kenya history and culture. Current health and environmental status of the maasai people in. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Documentation of maasai culture field work september december 2016 jennifer sharp and laangakwa twati. The maasai people of east africa have managed to retain much of their culture and traditions in the face of colonialism and increasing internal and external pressures. Maasai culture power, authority and influence essay sample. Polygyny is an ideal that is achieved by most older men. The maasai are well known for their unique culture and tribal dress. The maasai were the dominating tribe at beginning of 20th century. The traditional role of women in maasai culture is very different to that of men. The colorful ornaments are mainly created for their beauty, which is very important aspect of maasai culture.
Traditional inheritance and burial rites of the maasai people traditional practices of the fathers chest and predator burials in maasai culture posted on june 26, 2014 by kimberly lane blog writer, sevenponds. The effects of globalisation, technology and governance are just as apparent in maasai lives as they are elsewhere. A glimpse into the culture of the maasai the maasai sometimes spelled masai people compose one of the many diverse tribes of africa, occupying much of southern kenya and northern tanzania. What are the traditional roles of men and women in maasai. The missionaries were keen to convert tribes to christianity, halt slave trading and stop some of the maasai practices which they perceived as barbaric such as dressing. Maasai culture, like any other culture, is a dynamic phenomenon that evolves to adapt to new circumstances and includes a set of values and practices that is associated with a particular way of life. Began in the north and migrated south 17th and 18th century accumulated most ofpopulation as they migrated to present daylocations 4.
In maasai culture, wealth is measured by the number of cows a person has. The books in this series intend to capture the comprehensiveness of african culture and customs, dwelling on such important aspects as religion. The maasai tribe has maintained its proud culture since it moved into kenya from egypt and ethiopia in the 17th and 18th centuries. Maasai customs and traditions african culture at bellaonline. Wherever you go on the east african safari circuit of southern kenya and northern tanzania, the maasai are a nearconstant presence. To understand and document maasai culture in its current form, data was collected under. We, maasai, still have much of our culture, customs, and tradition as we did thousands of years ago. The maasai tribe or masai is a unique and popular tribe due to their long preserved culture. Maasai often travel into towns and cities to purchase goods and supplies and to sell their cattle at regional markets.
In our ecosystem the most valuable resource is the wildlife. Maasai culture power, authority and influence essay example. They speak the maa language from the nilotic ethnic group from their origin in north africa, the nile region. The maasai are a wellknown ethnic group around the world. In central kenya, pastoral maasai fought, traded with, and married. Big and brave warriors who have earned their respect are celebrated throughout their lives. All respondents agreed that the biggest driver of change. At one time young maasai warriors set off in groups with the express purpose of acquiring illegal cattle. Most of the worlds indigenous or cultural communities live on land to which they do not have legal title. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. They are also famous for their unique culture and mode of dressing. The cover claims that this is a story of culture and conservation. Maasai culture power, authority and influence essay. Wherever you go on the east african safari circuit of southern kenya and northern tanzania, the maasai people are a nearconstant presence.
The maasai culture is very different to my australian culture. They are one of the very few tribes who have retained most of their traditions, lifestyle and lore. This representation affects perceptions and ideas about what it means to be maasai. The maasai have many dances5 for different events their lives. To understand and document maasai culture in its current form, data was collected under four themes. Kenya recognizes over fifty tribes of native people. The number of maasai in kenya is estimated to be approximately 800,000, with about the same number living in tanzania. Consideration of cultural practices is a precondition for ensuring appropriate dietary practices. In the past, the maasai and the wildlife simply lived together, in balance.
However, information on the influence of culture on dietary practices among maasai children is minimal. The maasai of kenya and tanzania embody one of the most powerful images of tribal africa but its a guise thats becoming increasingly imitated. Ecotourism is about protection of natural resources. In maasai culture, the traditional system of education includes imparting knowledge through various forms of oral literature narrators as well as. The maasai culture and traditions maasai wilderness.
The reason could be that the information came from different maasai villages with different ways of life and the authors may have had different opinions and ideas about the maasai and their culture. The maasai are a warrior tribe so becoming a great warrior is the ultimate goal in life for young boys. Participant observation of day to day life, in depth interviews and focus group. The maasai people of east africa live in southern kenya and northern tanzania along the great rift valley on semiarid and arid lands. Currently, maasai culture and tradition face more challenges than ever before. To assist the laikipia maasai in the protection, management, strengthening and promotion of their cultural heritage for their own cultural and economic development promote cultural diversity through documenting, recording, and sharing the heritage of the laikipia maasai. They came to dominate the rift valley as far south as central tanzania. The purpose of this paper will be to explore the use of critical democratic pedagogy through the arts in schools as an educational policy tool to increase critical inquiry, student voice in issues of equity and social justice, and student engagement for maasai youth. From the traditional music and cultures of kenya, a multimedia encyclopaedia dedicated to all kenyan tribes, including music and dance, history, culture, society, religion and beliefs, rituals and daily life, fables, legends, riddles and proverbs. Despite education, civilization and western cultural influences, the maasai people have clung to their traditional way of life, making them a symbol of kenyan culture. Engaging the custodians of tradition and culture brookings.
Their redchecked shukas and elaborate jewellery are a picture of beauty and ageold traditions. You can face only one direction until the operation is completed. The initiation of a maasai warrior tepilit ole saitoti tepilit, circumcision means a sharp knife cutting into the skin of the most sensitive part of your body. Maasai women wear vast plate like bead necklaces and bangles while men wear red checked shuka maasai blanket. Girls are responsible for chores such as cooking and milking. This is still very strong in the maasai culture and it is very difficult for women to voice their opinions. Marriages are arranged by the elders, without consulting the bride or her mother. The challenges of maasai involvement in tourism development a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy in social anthropology at massey university, palmerston north, new zealand. Nilotes speak nilosaharan language, and came to southeast africa by way of south sudan.
If this could be reestablished, by showing to the maasai the economic value of the presence of wildlife in their land, the future of the land, of the wildlife and of the maasai people will be assured. The governor allegedly wished to support traditional leadership in the form of. Culture and customs of kenya south african history online. The maasai tribe is the most authentic ethnic tribe of kenya. Maasai women speak out introduction by ledama olekina a major international movement has developed over the past 20 years to eradicate the cultural practice of female circumcision that takes place in many african and asian countries. Culture embodies their philosophy, worldview, behavior patterns, arts, and institutions. Further south, pastoral maasai divided into a number of different sections. Maasai land, law, and dispossession cultural survival. Just like the maasai in tanzania, the maasai in kenya are being pressured by their government to modern. The maasai people of east africa have a rich and unique culture worth learning. The maasai occupy a total land area of 160,000 square kilometers with a population of approximately one half million people.
The maasai maasai a traditional tribe undergoing change the maasai are traditional, seminomadic pastoralists in east africa. According to the studys authors, the maasai have maintained their culture in the face of extensive genetic introgression. Due to their distinct traditions, customs and dress and their residence near the many. Although often perceived as a traditional society, maasai culture, like all culture, is dynamic and changing. A culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people, it is the widening of the mind and spirit, culture is the pattern of human knowledge, belief and behaviour along with attitudes, values, goals and practices within ones family or social group. Roles and status for men social interactions, household duties, political power and rituals are all dictated depending on the age and gender of each individual maasai man. This paper will discuss in great detail the culture of the maasai tribe of kenya and tanzania, along with comparing and contrasting an american coming of age ritual to the rituals of the maasai tribe. The maasai masai s unique hair is a clear living symbol of their tradition and culture.
In common with the wildlife with which they coexist, the maasai need a. The maasai tribe culture and tradition is distinctive. Influence of culture on dietary practices of children. The maasai tribe maasai history and culture kenya travel. According to linguistic research, the maa language is hermetic and not one of the numerous bantu languages on the african continent. Ecotourism based on conservation and sustainability. Although women are still discriminated against, the stereotypes of women obeying and being inferior to men are decreasing, and regularly being challenged in our society.
The maasai wander in bands throughout the year and subsist almost entirely on the meat, blood, and milk of their herds. As a result of their being younger than men at the time of marriage, most women become widows, and it is understood that they should not remarry. The life of a maasai woman like most poor women in african nations, the majority of maasai women in kenya are destined to live a life of poverty and cultural oppression. The popular maasai jumping dance4, where boys leap into the air, is part of the boys rite of passage, when boys become men. If a maasai man wants to get married, he might have. Photographs of the maasai are frequently at the center of tourist guidebooks, as well as documentary films about east africa and its wildlife. The maasai wilderness conservation trust mwct and campi ya kanzi have the same mission. The purpose of this study was to establish the impact of urbanization on the livelihood of the maasai community in ngong ward, kajiado county.
Maasai are ruthless capitalists and due to past behavior have become notorious as cattle rustlers. Maasai agriculture and land use change by andrew conroy, ph. The maasai s autosomal dna has been examined in a comprehensive study by tishkoff et al. Youll see the brightly colored reds, blues and purples of their shuka sheets worn wrapped around the body, one over each shoulder, then a third over the top of them standing out vividly against the landscape, whether in small mudthatched villages.