The Maasai

Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting northern to southern Tanzania. This nomad tribe which is far away from life According to their own oral history the Masai people originated in the Nile Valley in Northern Africa and migrated south around the 15th century with their cattle. Why they did this is not known, however historians believe it was simply out of need for better grazing land. In their southward expansion, the Maasai found such land and satisfied their desire for more cattle by waging devastating warfare and continual cattle raids on other tribes. They quickly spread south through the Rift Valley where the fertile grasslands were ideal for their cattle and around the 18th century, reached the present-day territories in Tanzania and kenya.

Way of Life

In spite of their reputation as fierce warriors, One of their spiritual beliefs is that their God, Enkai, created cattle for the Maasai and that all the cattle on earth belong solely to them. This bond has led them to a nomadic way of life following patterns of rainfall over vast lands in search of food and water for their cattle. Traditionally, all of the Maasai’s needs were met by their cattle; they ate the meat, drank the milk and sometimes blood. Animals were slaughtered for ceremonies, and all their clothing, shoes and bedding came from the hide, whilst cow dung was used for building.

The Maasai have managed to retain many of their traditional ways, however, this becomes more challenging every year. The ability to graze their cattle over large areas has diminished considerably over recent years due to increased urbanization and the declaration of the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti Game Reserves, which were former Maasai grazing land. The Maasai have now adapted a more sedentary lifestyle that includes growing and buying cultivated food. Today raiding cattle has also become a crime so in order to increase their herds the Maasai must buy cattle, which means seeking employment in order to earn money to do business.

Traditions

There are numerous traditions and ceremonies performed by Maasai men. Perhaps best known is the ‘warrior’ jumping dance where young Maasai moran (youth) leap into the air from a standing position in order to demonstrate strength and agility.

Traditionally, 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 areas. In earlier times groups of young boys were also required to build a new village and live in it for lengthy periods of time, often years, as part of their passage to manhood. This practice is now dying out due to lack of land.