History of the Maasai Tribe
It is thought that the Maasai’s ancestors originated in North Africa, migrating south along the Nile Valley and arriving in Northern Kenya in the middle of the 15th century. They continued southward, conquering all of the tribes in their path, extending through the Rift Valley and arriving in Tanzania at the end of 19th century. As they migrated, they attacked their neighbors and raided cattle. By the end of their journey, the Maasai had taken over almost all of the land in the Rift Valley as well as the adjacent land from Mount Marsabit to Dodoma, where they settled to graze their cattle.
Tragedy struck the Maasai tribe at the turn of the century. An epidemic of deadly diseases attacked and killed large numbers of the Maasai’s animals. This was quickly followed by severe drought that lasted years. Over half of the Maasais and their animals perished during this period. Soon after, more than two thirds of the Maasai’s land in Kenya was taken away by the British and the Kenyan government to create both ranches for settlers and Kenya and Tanzania’s wildlife reserves and national parks.
The Maasai Tribe today
The Maasai people live on a smaller piece of land in the Kajiado and Narok districts, surrounded by Kenya’s fine game reserves. The effects of modern civilization, education and western influence have not completely spared this unique and interesting tribe.
Some of the Maasai tribe’s deep-rooted culture is slowly fading away. Customs, activities and rituals such as female circumcision and cattle raiding have been outlawed by modern legislation. Maasai children now have access to education and some Maasai have moved from their homeland to urban areas where they have secured jobs.
Here are some interesting facts and traditions of the Maasai tribe:
- The Maasai tribe is traditionally a semi nomadic tribe. They live off their cattle almost exclusively.
- The Maasai have a reputation of being a fierce warrior. The role of a warrior is to protect their animals from human and animal predators; and to provide security to their families.
- Maasai men may have more than one wife.
- The Maasai tribe has a deep, almost sacred, relationship with cattle. They measure wealth by the number of cattle and children one has.
- Though they traditionally dressed in animal skins, today, typical Maasai dress consists of read sheets, (shuka), wrapped around the body and lots of beaded jewelry placed around the neck and arms.
- Maasai women build their houses out of sticks and grass, then cover it with a mixture of cow dung and mud.
- A Maasai village is called an enkang.
- The men put a thick wall of dried thorn-tree branches around the circle of houses to prevent wild animals from coming into the village.
- The women do a lot of beading in their spare time. They bead necklaces, headdresses, gourds, and dresses.
- Women and children keep their heads shaved while the morani wear their hair in long braids dyed with red clay.
- The Maasai eat custard made from the blood of their cattle. The blood is mixed with milk and curdled to make the custard.
- The Maasai pierce and stretch their earlobes and wear large metal hoops at the tops of their ears. This goes for both male and female members.
- It is a sign of beauty for women to have long stretched earlobes. Decorative cuts are also made on womens’ faces for beauty.
- In their monotheistic traditional beliefs, the Maasai god (Enkai or Engai) was manifested in two forms: the black god, who was benevolent; and the red god, who was vengeful. Today most of the Maasai tribe are Christians and a minority are Muslims.
- The language of the Masai is called ‘Maa’.
www.Kenyaculture.blogspot.com/2015
www.bellaonline.com/articles/art2641.asp