THE MASAI

THE MASAI


It is the most famous indigenous people in Kenya.

They live by the agriculture and livestock and they maintain the customs of their ancestors as a lifestyle.

Their painting and dances are the most striking, also their long red capes that are always accompanied by their sharp spears.

The areas where they live are called "bomas".

The construction of the houses is the task of women, they are huts made from branches of trees, mud and manure that hardens when it dries.  They are claustrophobic, dark and low houses and without windows to avoid mosquitos, they sleep in hard leather beds. Each house has three bedrooms, one for the parents, one for children and the third for guests. Inside the house there is always a fire lit.

It's main activity is cattle because they feed on milk and meat and they are dedicated to herd their cattle.

The cattle also provides them leather for their clothes and blood. They cut part of the jugular of the cow and collect about two litres of blood which is mixed with milk and sometimes a bit of urine and it is everything beaten in a pumpkin.

At present, to increase the masai population, they also work as farmers in agricultural  activities, although for them it is an unworthy and impure activity, also some of them migrate to the cities to look for work.

The Masai villages are organized into age groups: children until fifteen years, then people between fifteen and thirty years old who are warriors and then elderly people.

To become warriors they have to overcome a few rites of initiation beginning with the circumcision, afterwards there is a big party that lasts some days in which ritual dances and songs are performed.

Young people spend hours plaiting their hair and then smearing it with grease and mud like sign of strength.

Physically all of them are very tall, strong and agile and they care their image with their hairstyles, large necklaces, earrings and bracelets.

They don't have leaders, when they have problematic issues, mainly with the cattle,  public discussions are organized and old men hold meetings to try to solve the problem.  At the end they are who make the most important decisions.

They worship a God, "Engai", who can be manifested as the good God, "Engai Narok", or as the bad God, "Engai Na-nyokie". Also they believe in a spiritual leader, "The Laibon" who acts as a doctor, fortune-teller, adviser and is responsible for conducting all the rituals.

It seems a primitive life but the Masai keep a precious union with nature. They are proud of their past, still they have an alive culture, although under pressure, they are about 400,000 left in all Kenya. 
Although with many changes, but always with the smile in their face, the Masai always will be on their land if we are able not to interfere in their life.

I have very good memories of the Masai. I hope you enjoy it.


Ana Belén