As they are solely semi nomadic and pastoral, the Maasai tribe live solely off the land alone. These are typically red, though with some other colors (e.g. [38] The Maasai are known for their intricate jewelry and for decades, have sold these items to tourists as a business. For the most part, the Maasai people live on the milk and meat their … This ritual is typically performed by the elders, who use a sharpened knife and makeshift cattle hide bandages for the procedure. The Maasai Tribe have not had an easy life. Formal capital punishment is unknown, and normally payment in cattle will settle matters. Here are some of them; The Maasai people of East Africa live in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania along the Great Rift Valley on semi-arid and arid lands. [97] Villages are enclosed in a circular fence (an enkang) built by the men, usually of thorned acacia, a native tree. [41] Burial has in the past been reserved for great chiefs, since it is believed to be harmful to the soil. The olaranyani begins by singing a line or title (namba) of a song. The Maasai People Arguably the single most iconic tribe in Africa, the Maasai are nomadic pastrolists who traditionally make a living out of herding cattle. The Maasai People: An Introduction. A full body of oral law covers many aspects of behavior. They speak the Maa language from the Nilotic ethnic group from their origin in North Africa, the Nile region. The Maa word for circumcision, "emorata," is used for both female and male genital mutilation. Tepilit Ole Saitoti with photos by Carol Beckwith. It is on records that Africa remains the home of the last surviving cultures and traditions in the world. Maasai respect the elements of nature, particularly thunder, lightning and rain, as both gifts and punishments on the tribe. [106] The cockade symbolizes the "state of grace" accorded to infants. The Maasai People - Culture, Facts, and Everything You Need to Know. [13], The Maasai territory reached its largest size in the mid-19th century, and covered almost all of the Great Rift Valley and adjacent lands from Mount Marsabit in the north to Dodoma in the south. The plan for the NCA was to put Maasai interests above all else, but this promise was never met. [42], Traditional Maasai lifestyle centres around their cattle, which constitute their primary source of food. Genetic genealogy, a tool that uses the genes of modern populations to trace their ethnic and geographic origins, has also helped clarify the possible background of the modern Maasai. [104] Warriors are the only members of the Maasai community to wear long hair, which they weave in thinly braided strands. Garrett Hardin's article, outlining the "tragedy of the commons", as well as Melville Herskovits' "cattle complex" helped to influence ecologists and policy makers about the harm Maasai pastoralists were causing to savannah rangelands. "The technology of traditional milk products in developing countries", "Livestock as food for pastoralists in Africa", "Maasai herding: An analysis of the livestock production system of Maasai pastoralists in eastern Kajiado District, Kenya", "Ethnobotany of the Loita Maasai: towards community management of the Forest of the Lost Child; experiences from the Loita Ethnobotany Project; People and plants working paper; Vol. One thing, however, is certain that the Maasai culture is quickly eroding at the expense of civilization. [111], As males have their heads shaved at the passage from one stage of life to another, a bride to be will have her head shaved, and two rams will be slaughtered in honor of the occasion. Initially, Maasai women used dried grass, sticks, clay, … For Maasai living a traditional life, the end of life is virtually without ceremony, and the dead are left out for scavengers. Dr. Weston A. page 136. Young women also undergo excision ("female circumcision", "female genital mutilation," "emorata") as part of an elaborate rite of passage ritual called "Emuatare," the ceremony that initiates young Maasai girls into adulthood through ritual circumcision and then into early arranged marriages. ", "Song Structure of Maasai Music (archived copy)". 2003. (2009) on the genetic affiliations of various populations in Africa. "[27], A Y chromosome study by Wood et al. The Maasai who live near crop farmers have engaged in cultivation as their primary mode of subsistence. The Maasai pray to Engai as a spiritual force that governs the universe. This period was marked by epidemics of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, rinderpest (see 1890s African rinderpest epizootic), and smallpox. Today, they have a political role as well due to the elevation of leaders. The cow dung ensures that the roof is waterproof. Broken Spears - a Maasai Journey. Tepilit Ole Saitoti with photos by Carol Beckwith. [52] The boy must endure the operation in silence. A circle is formed by the warriors, and one or two at a time will enter the center to begin jumping while maintaining a narrow posture, never letting their heels touch the ground. [82][83] Women wear various forms of beaded ornaments in both the ear lobe, and smaller piercings at the top of the ear. The Last of the Maasai. Responses to Criminalizing Female Genital Cutting in Senegal", Why do People Sing? [28] E1b1b-M35-M78 in 15%, their ancestor with the more northerly Cushitic males, who possess the haplogroup at high frequencies[29] lived more than 13 000 years ago. Girls stand in front of the men and make the same pelvis lunges while singing a high dying fall of "Oiiiyo..yo" in counterpoint to the men. Elizabeth L. Gilbert. Repayment of the bride price, custody of children, etc., are mutually agreed upon. The estimate first put forward by a German lieutenant in what was then northwest Tanganyika, was that 90% of cattle and half of wild animals perished from rinderpest. The Maasai were originally a Nilo-Saharan people centred around the area of what is today Sudan. [33] The houses are either somewhat rectangular shaped with extensions or circular, and are constructed by able-bodied women. At night, all cows, goats, and sheep are placed in an enclosure in the centre, safe from wild animals. Maasai land now has East Africa's finest game areas. They occupy a total land area of 160,000 square kilometers with a population of approximately one half million people. Black and blue beads were made from iron, charcoal, seeds, clay, or horn. Women are also circumcised (as described above). [103], Head shaving is common at many rites of passage, representing the fresh start that will be made as one passes from one to another of life's chapters. early as the 15th century in the lower region of the Nile valley It is given to a circumcised person, a woman who has given birth and the sick. [93] Although consumed as snacks, fruits constitute a major part of the food ingested by children and women looking after cattle as well as morans in the wilderness. … Engai has a dual nature: Engai Narok (Black God) is benevolent, and Engai Na-nyokie (Red God) is vengeful. A man who has plenty of one but not the other is considered to be poor. [57], The warriors spend most of their time now on walkabouts throughout Maasai lands, beyond the confines of their sectional boundaries. Here are 7 Little known facts about the atlantic slave trade that saw a vast majority of africans transported... Anele is a web developer and a Pan-Africanist who believes bad leadership is the only thing keeping Africa from taking its rightful place in the modern world. The structural framework is formed of timber poles fixed directly into the ground and interwoven with a lattice of smaller branches wattle, which is then plastered with a mix of mud, sticks, grass, cow dung, human urine, and ash. An out-of-court process is also practiced called amitu, 'to make peace', or arop, which involves a substantial apology. 87% were found to have undergone the removal of one or more deciduous canine tooth buds. This initiation is performed shortly after puberty. The Maasai have a population of about 1 million people. Young men, for instance, wear black for several months following their circumcision. The head is tilted back for an inward breath. Camerapix Publishers International. (2002). [108], Two days before boys are circumcised, their heads are shaved. An ILCA study (Nestel 1989) states: "Today, the stable diet of the Maasai consists of cow's milk and maize-meal. They are among the best known local populations internationally due to their residence near the many game parks of the African Great Lakes, and their distinctive customs and dress. They have to sell their animals and traditional medicines in order to buy food. [100] Maasai near the coast may wear kikoi, a type of sarong that comes in many different colors and textiles. They are also much more involved in cattle trading than they used to be, developing and improving basic stock through trades and bartering rather than stealing as in the past.[58][59]. The Maasai Tribe . The spread of HIV was rampant. Traditionally, the Maasai rely on meat, milk and blood from cattle for protein and caloric needs. For Maasai, cows are wealth. In 1857, after having depopulated the "Wakuafi wilderness" in what is now southeastern Kenya, Maasai warriors threatened Mombasa on the Kenyan coast. Lion hunting was an activity of the past, but it has been banned in Southeast Africa – yet lions are still hunted when they maul Maasai livestock,[60] and young warriors who engage in traditional lion killing do not face significant consequences. The Maasai rarely farm (they only do so when they have no other choice). At Eunoto, the warriors who managed to abide by this rule are specially recognized. The warriors of the Il-Oodokilani perform a kind of march-past as well as the adumu, or aigus, sometimes referred as "the jumping dance" by non-Maasai. (2003). Others call it Maasai Mara or Maasai Mara National Reserve. Pink, even with flowers, is not shunned by warriors. [49], Many Maasai have moved away from the nomadic life to positions in commerce and government. [15][16], Because of this migration, the Maasai are the southernmost Nilotic speakers. A nomad is a person who does not stay long in the same place. [78], Eunoto, the coming of age ceremony of the warrior, can involve ten or more days of singing, dancing and ritual. The future of the Maasai is uncertain at this point. 100 metres). The women of the tribe are responsible for building the houses using materials such as sticks, grass, mud and even cow dung. Maasai is essentially a linguistic term, referring to speakers of this Eastern Sudanic language (usually called Maa) of the Nilo-Saharan language family. [107] A woman who has miscarried in a previous pregnancy would position the hair at the front or back of the head, depending on whether she had lost a boy or a girl. Fewer and fewer Maasai, particularly boys, follow this custom. plaid). Vol 5.3,4. Camerapix Publishers International. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 1980. pages 126, 129. Rains failed completely in 1897 and 1898. [79]) Warriors are well known for, and often photographed during, this competitive jumping. Facts about Maasai Tribe of Kenya 2: population According to 2009 census, Kenya was occupied by 841,622 Maasai people. In rural Kenya a group of 95 children aged between six months and two years were examined in 1991/92. [24], Essentially there are twenty-two geographic sectors or sub tribes of the Maasai community, each one having its own customs, appearance, leadership and dialects. Maasai homes are called Inkajijik. [101], Many Maasai in Tanzania wear simple sandals, which were until recently made from cowhides. These subdivisions are known as 'nations' or 'iloshon' in the Maa language: the Keekonyokie, Damat, Purko, Wuasinkishu, Siria, Laitayiok, Loitai, Kisonko, Matapato, Dalalekutuk, Loodokolani, Kaputiei, Moitanik, Ilkirasha, Samburu, Lchamus, Laikipia, Loitokitoki, Larusa, Salei, Sirinket and Parakuyo. Both men and women of the Maasai society are traditionally eager to undergo through circumcision. The mothers of the moran sing and dance in tribute to the courage and daring of their sons.[81]. In 1989 census, the population was only 377,089 people. Maasai Tribe Culture and Traditions "Sustainability and livelihood diversification among the Maasai of Northern Tanzania". Kenya Mafia jig-s", "Lion Killing in the Amboseli-Tsavo Ecosystem, 2001–2006, and its Implications for Kenya's Lion Population", "Maasai Ritual of Female Circumcision: Genital Cutting Practiced throughout Africa and Middle East", "In-depth: Razor's Edge - The Controversy of Female Genital Mutilation", "Legislating Change? Wealth is … Livestock such as cattle, goats and sheep are the … Facts about Masai Mara tell you about a large game reserve located in Narok County, Kenya. [27] Tishkoff et al. :8; 2001", Working for a just and self-sustaining community for the Maasai People, Maasai people, Kenya at the Maasai Association, Indiana University Art Museum Arts of Kenya online collection, Population and Housing Census - Ethnic Affiliation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maasai_people&oldid=1000182073, Ethnic groups divided by international borders, Members of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, "Related ethnic groups" needing confirmation, Articles using infobox ethnic group with image parameters, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from December 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2020, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 January 2021, at 00:23. Any exclamations can cause a mistake in the delicate and tedious process, which can result in lifelong scarring, dysfunction, and pain. Kenya recognizes over fifty tribes of native people. Neck movements accompany singing. When breathing out the head is leaned forward. Cattle are the traditional partners of the Maasai people of East Africa. They eat the meat, drink the milk daily, and drink the blood on occasion. [26], The Maasai's autosomal DNA has been examined in a comprehensive study by Tishkoff et al. [99] One piece garments known as kanga, a Swahili term, are common. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 1980. pages 194. [30] The second most frequent paternal lineage among the Maasai was Haplogroup A3b2, which is commonly found in Nilotic populations, such as the Alur;[28][31] it was observed in 27% of Maasai males. Young boys are sent out with the calves and lambs as soon as they can toddle, but childhood for boys is mostly playtime, with the exception of ritual beatings to test courage and endurance. The enkaj or engaji is small, measuring about 3 × 5 m and standing only 1.5 m high. [8], The Maasai inhabit the African Great Lakes region and arrived via the South Sudan. There are however little known but interesting facts about members of the Maasai community. The Maasai (/ˈmɑːsaɪ, mɑːˈsaɪ/)[3][4] are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting northern, central and southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. [61] Increasing concern regarding lion populations has given rise to at least one program which promotes accepting compensation when a lion kills livestock, rather than hunting and killing the predator. Nambas, the call-and-response pattern, repetition of nonsensical phrases, monophonic melodies,[72][73] repeated phrases following each verse being sung on a descending scale, and singers responding to their own verses are characteristic of singing by females. [76], One exception to the vocal nature of Maasai music is the use of the horn of the Greater Kudu to summon morans for the Eunoto ceremony. Beforethey.com. Warriors are not allowed to have sexual relations with circumcised women, though they may have girlfriends who are uncircumcised girls. blue) and patterns (e.g. Human Organization. [64] These circumcisions are usually performed by an invited 'practitioner' who is often not Maasai, usually from a Dorobo group. Lyrics follow a typical theme and are often repeated verbatim over time. Vol 62.2. pp. The manyatta has no encircling barricade for protection, emphasizing the warrior role of protecting the community. posted on Jun. Their language is called Maa. The Maa word for circumcision is emorata. Most of the milk is consumed as fermented milk or buttermilk (a by-product of butter making). [25], Recent advances in genetic analyses have helped shed some light on the ethnogenesis of the Maasai people. Many had not a single tooth attacked by dental caries nor a single malformed dental arch. TRIBES PEOPLE GROUPS - Maasai (Masai) ( Also spelt Maasai (Masai), Maasai (Masai) Masai. Blood is part of the Maasai diet. The authors observed haplogroup E1b1b-M35 (not M78) in 35% of the studied Maasai. Facts about Maasai Tribe of Kenya Maasai eat soup laced with bitter bark and roots containing cholesterol-lowering saponins; those urban Maasai who don't have access to the bitter plants tend to develop heart disease. [17], The Austrian explorer Oscar Baumann travelled in Maasai lands between 1891 and 1893, and described the old Maasai settlement in the Ngorongoro Crater in the 1894 book Durch Massailand zur Nilquelle ("Through the lands of the Maasai to the source of the Nile"): "There were women wasted to skeletons from whose eyes the madness of starvation glared ... warriors scarcely able to crawl on all fours, and apathetic, languishing elders. Haplogroup B-M60 was also observed in 8% of the studied Maasai,[28] which is also found in 30% (16/53) of Southern Sudanese Nilotes. They use the term “engai” when they speak of God or the elements, as they believe these natural occurrences shape the earth on which they live. Beads weren’t the original material used. Cattle herding is still the main activity of Maasai people, and cattle is central to their lifestyle. They have maintained the way they live for decades and are one of the few tribes in Africa to stick to their cultural practices and traditions. The Maasai tribe is one of the most famous and recognized tribes. Maasai Tribe One of the famous tribes of Africa, the nomadic and pastoralist Maasai people are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting selected but large parts of northern, central and southern Kenya and across the border in northern Tanzania as well. Note that the Maasai cattle are of the Zebu variety. Maasai Mara Is Not Just About Mammals. In these areas, plot sizes are generally not large enough to accommodate herds of animals; thus the Maasai are forced to farm.[96]. [106] This would symbolize the healing of the woman. [citation needed] The former is largely drunk fresh or in sweet tea and the latter is used to make a liquid or solid porridge. The Last of the Maasai. In the deserts of Kenya and Tanzania, one of the largest tribes in Africa care for their cows, study to be warriors, and take care of their families. Red beads came from seeds, woods, gourds, bone, ivory, copper, or brass. Camerapix Publishers International. The Nilotic-Kushite origins of the Maasa… The Last of the Maasai. Although the Maasai have strongly gripped their traditional beliefs, their culture is uniquely transforming over the years. The woman decides strictly on her own if she will join the visiting male. Tepilit Ole Saitoti with photos by Carol Beckwith. However, the practice remains deeply ingrained and valued by the culture. Due to changing circumstances, especially the seasonal nature of the milk supply and frequent droughts, most pastoralists, including the Maasai, now include substantial amounts of grain in their diets. Maasai feel that once land is cultivated, it is no longer suitable for their precious livestock to graze on. Swarms of vultures followed them from high, awaiting their certain victims." [14] At this time the Maasai, as well as the larger Nilotic group they were part of, raised cattle as far east as the Tanga coast in Tanganyika (now mainland Tanzania). Tepilit Ole Saitoti with photos by Carol Beckwith. The needs for protein and essential amino acids are more than adequately satisfied. One of the most vibrant indigenous societies on the continent, the pastoralist Maasai built an economy and way of life deeply intertwined with their cattle herds in the Great Rift Valley of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. Common rhythms are variations of 5/4, 6/4 and 3/4 time signatures. Originated in North Africa Maasai people migrated to the south and east in the … [105], Upon reaching the age of 3 "moons", the child is named and the head is shaved clean apart from a tuft of hair, which resembles a cockade, from the nape of the neck to the forehead. Mohamed Amin, Duncan Willetts, John Eames. Their language is called Maa. It has recently been replaced in some instances by a "cutting with words" ceremony involving singing and dancing in place of the mutilation. The exception is found in extremely remote areas. [21][22] More land was taken to create wildlife reserves and national parks: Amboseli National Park, Nairobi National Park, Maasai Mara, Samburu National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park and Tsavo in Kenya; and Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire[23] and Serengeti National Park in what is now Tanzania. However, today this practice is usually abandoned. Page 169. They passed through the highlands of Kenya and past Lake Turkana, finally settling on the savannah grass plains of what is today southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. [9] Most Nilotic speakers in the area, including the Maasai, the Turkana and the Kalenjin, are pastoralists, and are famous for their fearsome reputations as warriors and cattle-rustlers. [102], Beadworking, done by women, has a long history among the Maasai, who articulate their identity and position in society through body ornaments and body painting. Mohamed Amin, Duncan Willetts, John Eames. Female genital cutting is illegal in both Kenya and Tanzania. Each song has its specific namba structure based on call-and-response. The Maasai of east Africa are one of the best-known groups of people in Africa. Pages 43, 100. It is important to note that with the rising challenges of the 21st century in the Maasai society, many young Maasai women no longer undergo through circumcision. Bulls, goats, and lambs are slaughtered for meat on special occasions and for ceremonies. Currently, dense, opaque glass beads with no surface decoration and a naturally smooth finish are preferred. They are rectangular and loaf-shaped and constructed from the land. 1987. The cultural practice of early marriage is one of the most potent threats to the rights of children in modern times with its disturbingly... Orompoto or Orompotoniyun as she’s more commonly referred to was the first woman to become Alaafin of Oyo in the imperial era. In an older age group (3–7 years of age), 72% of the 111 children examined exhibited missing mandibular or maxillary deciduous canines. Butter is also an important infant food. Animal fats or butter are used in cooking, primarily of porridge, maize, and beans. [77], Both singing and dancing sometimes occur around manyattas, and involve flirting. [46] This influenced British colonial policy makers in 1951 to remove all Maasai from the Serengeti National Park and relegate them to areas in and around the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). About Maasai tribe is one of the Maasai need a lot of land woods, gourds bone... 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