The Masai Tribe
The Maasai are found in North central Tanzania and southern Kenya . Their neighbouring tribes are the Samburu, Kikuyu, Kamba, Chaga, Meru, Pare, Kaguru, Gogo and Sukuma.The Masai have a spoken language, not a written language. This is called Ol Maa (Nilotic).
The masai tribe
Maasai families live in an Enkang (a form of enclosure or kraal) formed by a thick round 'fence' of sharp thorn bushes; this protects the tribe and their cattle, especially at night, from rival tribes and other predators. The Enkang usually contains 10-20 small squat huts made from branches pasted with fresh cow-dung (by the women), which bakes hard under the hot sun. Masaai huts are very small. They have perhaps two 'rooms' or sections, and are not high or long enough for these tall people to stand upright or lie fully stretched. They are also very dark with small doorways and tiny holes in the roof. These holes serve two purposes; they allow light into the hut and allow smoke to escape from the smouldering (cow-dung) fire. The fire is kept alight for warmth and cooking and discourages the entrance of unwanted insects. The Enkang used to be 'temporary' and something that could be built elsewhere if the Maasai had to migrate to fresh areas of grazing. Enkangs are sometimes called Manyattas, and the two are both collections of huts, however a true Manyatta is really a camp used by an age-related group of unmarried warriors and may contain many more huts (built by the women-folk and set a short distance away from the Enkang.)
Masai houses
The Maasai drink a mixture of milk and blood. This blood- milk drink provides a rich source of protein and iron. The cattle raised serves many purposes, their milk and blood is used for food, their meat is rarely taken for food (but may be used during ceremonies and in times of famine). Blood is obtained by shooting an arrow at close range through the cattle's jugular vein, then capturing the spilled blood into a gourd. The wound is not fatal and is patched afterwards.
As with many tribes, the Maasai have a distinct social structure based partly on significant stages of life. The Maasai family strucure is polygamous, wherein men have as many wives as they can afford. Wives are purchased and payed for with cattle. They are usually at least two age sets (28 years) younger than their husband. Each wife has her own shamba/hut, which she is responsible for building. Each shamba has two gateposts: the first wife and all odd number wives are on the right side and the second wife and all even number wives are on the left side. Each wife is responsible for caring for the herd allocated to her. Her sons inherit her cattle (wealth) from her. Women look after the young children, milk the cattle, repair the huts, collect fire-wood, prepare the food and may need to travel many miles to fetch water. The sides of the shamba are unified by the gatepost they share and through paternal obligation. A wealthy man continues to marry throughout his life and the family continually changes. This change can result in conflict, resistance, bitterness, jealousies, and fear between the extended family, but it also can result in intense loyality, protective closeness and mutual respect.
Masaai community politics are based on age-grade systems, which separate young men and prepubescent girls from the elder men and their wives and children. When a young woman reaches puberty she is usually married immediately to an older man. Until this time, however, she may live and have sex with the youthful warriors. Often women maintain close ties, both social and sexual, with their former boyfriends, even after they are married. In order for men to marry they must first acquire wealth, a process that takes time. Women, on the other hand, are married at the onset of puberty to prevent children being born out of wedlock. All children, regardless of whether they are legitimate, are recognized as the property of the woman's husband and his family.
Children are considered a fantastic asset among the Maasai people. Young boys begin herding small animals that require less water before age five. As they grow older, they herd calves and eventually cattle. These larger animals often lead the herder to remote areas, so the herder must be well equipped to follow his animals into dangerous unfamiliar areas. Young girls also herd but usually follow their mother’s example of building huts, milking and providing for the children.
Masai people.
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