The Masai are an African tribe of about half a million people. Most of them live
in the country of Kenya, but they are also nomadic. Groups of Masai also live in
other parts of east Africa, including north Tanzania and they move their animals
(cows, sheep and goats) to different areas of the region.
There are many other African tribes but, for many people, the Masai are the most well-known.
They are famous for their bright red clothing and their ceremonies that include lots
of music and dancing. Probably, one of the most colourful ceremonies is the
festival of ‘Eunoto’. This is a rite of passage when the teenage boys of the Masai
become men.
‘Eunoto’ lasts for many days and Masai people travel across the region to get to a special place
near the border between Kenya and Tanzania. The teenage boys who travel with
them are called ‘warriors’. This is a traditional name from the past when young
men fought with other tribes. Nowadays, these warriors spend most of their time
looking after their cattle.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the teenagers paint their bodies. Meanwhile, their mothers start
to build a place called the ‘Osingira’. It is a sacred room in the middle of the
celebrations. Later, the older men from different tribes will sit inside this place and,
at different times, the boys go inside to meet them. Later in the day, the boys run
around the ‘Osingira’, going faster and faster each time. It is another important part
of the ritual.
The teenagers also have to change their appearance at ‘Eunoto’. Masai boys’ hair is very long
before the ritual but they have to cut it off. In Masai culture, hair is an important
symbol. For example, when a baby grows into an infant, the mother cuts the child’s
hair and gives the child a name. At a Masai wedding, the hair of the bride is also
cut off as she becomes a woman. And so, at Eunoto, the teenage boy’s mother cuts
his hair off at sunrise.
On the final day, the teenagers meet the senior elders one more time. They get
this advice: ‘Now you are men, use your heads and knowledge.’ Then, people
start to travel back to their homes and lands. The teenagers are no longer
‘warriors’. They are adult men and now they will get married, have children and
buy cattle. Later in life, they will be the leaders of their communities.
The Masai is an AFRICAN (AFRICA) tribe of about half a million people. They are famous for their bright red clothing and their ceremonies that include lots of music and dancing. PROBABLY (PROBABLE) , one of the most COLOURFUL (COLOUR) ceremonies is the festival of “Eunoto”. This is a rite of passage when TEENAGE (TEEN) boys of the Masai become men. At the beginning of the ceremony, the TEENAGERS (TEEN) paint their bodies. Meanwhile, their mothers build a sacred place called “Osingira”. During the CELEBRATION (CELEBRATE) the boys go inside to meet the older men from different tribes sitting there. The boys also have to change their APPEARANCE (APPEAR) at “Eunoto”. They have to cut their hair off. On the final day the boys meet the senior elders one more time. They get this ADVICE(ADVISE) : “Now, you are men use your heads and KNOWLEDGE (KNOW) .»
My mistakes
The Masai is a tribe of proud warriors, one of the most ancient and numerous throughout Africa. They live in Kenya and Tanzania. A distinctive feature of this tribe is that none of its members do not have a passport or any other document. That is why it is simply impossible to determine the exact number.
In the 15-16 centuries. the Masai were nomadic, they came from the banks of the Nile. In modern times, many of them, not without the pressure of today’s realities, are forced to become sedentary. However, not all of them surrender, most still remain nomads.
Who are the Masai?
Children under 14 years old are considered the happiest Masai. A tribe does not force them to learn anything, go to school, do social work, and so on. At this time, they only dance, have fun and sometimes go hunting. However, none of the children refuses personal self-improvement, they all observe adults, especially the leader. Seeing how they act and what they do, the kids build their own behavioral model.
After 14 years, the next 2-3 years Masai walk and look closely. Gradually, they enter into the established structure of the tribe, where each person has their duties. Teenagers are not immediately determined with their employment, they try themselves in all spheres. For example, one of the girls may become a cook, the other will start looking after the children.
Then, at the age of 16-17, the Masai marry or get married, build their own house, where they will live as a young unit of society. Gradually, the accumulation of funds. Since there are no banks in the villages, the status is determined by the number of livestock heads. The larger it is, the higher the position in society, respectively. After the wedding, a measured life begins, a formed person already knows exactly what responsibility lies with her. And so it continues until old age.
How do the Masai live?
About 160 km from Nairobi, the Maasai live in a relatively large village. The tribe has retained its original structure and way of life to this day. Since the area where it lives, does not differ fertile soil, people are forced to engage in cattle breeding. Each person determines his age only approximately, he does not have a passport, and the Maasai are not accustomed to follow the calendar.
Each village has about 100 inhabitants. And they are all members of this large family. At the head is the leader. The way of life, respectively, is only patriarchal. Modern men, since there is no war, graze cattle. Previously this was the duty of the weaker sex. Women cook and raise children. Special education is also not present, the young simply equate with their elders, imitating them in everything.
Three wives may have a Masai leader. The tribe, of course, is militant, but it does not concern women. They deserve the respect and confidence of men delicious food. By the way, the leader determines his beloved spouse daily. And his choice will depend directly on the goodness of the cooked dinner.
Maasai Wedding
In the Masai tribe wealth is accumulated through the sale of daughters. Therefore, a man who has more girls has a high status. The wedding begins with the groom coming to his bride’s house. On the threshold sits her father, guarding the home (so that the daughter was not stolen). Before handing over his daughter, he determines how much a young guy will have to give up cows for her.
The bride must be a virgin. Many guests come to the wedding, each of whom gives a little (or a lot) of money for the benefit of the young. All funds collected in-law. At first, she will live with the young, doing the work of the treasurer. As for the celebration itself, it takes place in a standard and familiar way — guests, fun, presenter, festive costumes, and so on.
A terrible tradition is that on the wedding night the spouse will not sleep with her husband, but with a master of ceremonies. This is because a young man should not see the blood of his Maasai woman.
If the warrior decided to marry again, then the new bride is chosen not by his mother, but by the first spouse. The same is with the subsequent ones. That is, no matter how many brides a man requested, they all go through the selection of the one that was seized at the beginning.
Masai food
The food and drink of the tribe is very peculiar. Moreover, nervous people are better off not getting acquainted with the kitchen in question. The favorite drink of the Masai is fresh blood. Sometimes it is bred with milk. Extraction of drinking occurs as follows. A man pierces the artery of an animal with a sharp object and inserts a container under pressure. The beast does not die, if only for the 10th time to quench thirst. After the warrior has filled his bowl, he fills the hole with clay, and the cow or ram continues to live.
But the Masai African tribe is very negative about meat products. This is not due to the fact that they are ideological vegetarians. Just livestock — the main income, and to eat it — means to deprive oneself of the status, to lower its significance in society.
Interesting facts about the Masai
The Masai African tribe is distinguished by amazing traditions that may seem horrible to a European or Slavic person. For example, all girls undergo circumcision, along with guys. Moreover, if a woman has not done this, she will never be married.
Also, all girls have to shave their heads baldly. Apparently, the men of the tribe do not believe that female beauty lies in long curls.
Each tribe has its own distinctive sign — tattoos. They cover both human bodies and livestock. Only in this way on grazing, they can distinguish their sheep from others. By the way, if a foreign cattle accidentally fell into the tribe, then it is immediately returned. No one has yet forgotten about the Masai’s militancy, even after decades of peaceful existence.
Conclusion
Literally striking originality, which has a Masai tribe. A photo of each of its members proves militancy and willfulness. Also often seen notes that they put themselves above other African tribes, as well as Europeans or Americans visiting the continent.
Moreover, when the colonialists came to the territory of Africa, they actually feared and even feared meeting with the Masai. With all this, the Europeans had modern technology and weapons, the tribe was primitive. It should be noted that this ancient culture is still preserved only because of its belligerence and unwillingness to donate its ancestral territories to the colonialists.
Масаи е племе на горди воини, едно от най-древните и многобройни в цяла Африка. Те живеят в Кения и Танзания. Отличителна черта на това племе е, че никой от членовете му няма паспорт или друг документ. Затова е невъзможно да се определи точния брой.
През 15-16 век. Масаите били номадски, идвали от бреговете на Нил. В днешно време много от тях, без натиска на днешните реалности, са принудени да станат заседнали. Въпреки това, не всички от тях се предават, повечето остават номади.
Кои са Масаи?
Децата под 14-годишна възраст се считат за най-щастливите Масаи. Едно племе не ги принуждава да научат нещо, да ходят на училище, да работят социално и т.н. По това време те танцуват, се забавляват и понякога ходят на лов. Въпреки това, никой от децата не отказва лично самоусъвършенстване, всички наблюдават възрастните, особено лидера. Виждайки как действат и какво правят, децата изграждат свой собствен модел на поведение.
След 14 години, следващите 2-3 години Масаи се разхождат и поглеждат внимателно. Постепенно те влизат в установената структура на племето, където всеки има своите задължения. Тийнейджърите не се определят веднага с работата си, те се опитват във всички сфери. Например една от момичетата може да стане готвач, а другата да започне да се грижи за децата.
След това, на 16-17-годишна възраст, масаите се женят или сключват брак, строят своя собствена къща, където ще живеят като млада част от обществото. Постепенно натрупването на средства. Тъй като в селата няма банки, статутът се определя от броя на животните. Колкото е по-голямо, толкова по-висока е позицията в обществото. След сватбата започва измерен живот, вече сформиран човек знае точно каква отговорност носи тя. И така продължава до старост.
Как живеят Масаи?
На около 160 км от Найроби Масаи живеят в сравнително голямо село. Племето запазва първоначалната си структура и начин на живот и до днес. Тъй като районът, в който живее, не се различава от плодородната почва, хората са принудени да се занимават с животновъдство. Всеки човек определя възрастта си само приблизително, няма паспорт и масаите не са свикнали да следват календара.
Всяко село има около 100 жители. И всички те са членове на това голямо семейство. Начело е лидерът. Начинът на живот, съответно, е само патриархален. Съвременните мъже, тъй като няма война, пасат добитък. Преди това това беше задължение на по-слабия пол. Жените готвят и отглеждат деца. Специалното образование също не присъства, младите просто се приравняват със своите старейшини, имитирайки ги във всичко.
Три жени могат да имат лидер на масаи. Племето, разбира се, е войнствено, но не се отнася за жените. Те заслужават уважението и доверието на хората вкусна храна. Между другото, лидерът определя ежедневно своята любима съпруга. Изборът му зависи пряко от добротата на приготвената вечеря.
Maasai Сватба
В племето Масаи богатството се натрупва чрез продажбата на дъщери. Ето защо човек с повече момичета има висок статус. Сватбата започва с идването на младоженеца в къщата на булката. На прага седи баща си, охранявайки дома (така че дъщерята не е открадната). Преди да предаде дъщеря си, той определя колко млад човек ще трябва да се откаже от нея.
Булката трябва да е девствена. Много гости идват на сватбата, всеки от които дава малко (или много) пари в полза на младите. Всички средства, събрани в закона. Първоначално тя ще живее с младите, изпълнявайки работата на касиера. Що се отнася до самия празник, той се провежда по стандартен и познат начин — гости, забавни, водещи, празнични костюми и т.н.
Ужасна традиция е, че на брачната нощ съпругът няма да спи със съпруга си, а с майстор на церемониите. Това е така, защото един млад мъж не бива да вижда кръвта на своята жена Масаи.
Ако воинът реши да се ожени отново, тогава новата булка се избира не от майка му, а от първия съпруг. Същото важи и за следващите. Това означава, че без значение колко булки иска човек, всички те преминават през избора на този, който е бил изземан в началото.
Масаи храна
Храната и напитката на племето са много особени. Освен това, нервните хора са по-добре да не се запознават с въпросната кухня. Любимата напитка на масай е свежа кръв. Понякога се отглежда с мляко. Екстракцията на пиене става както следва. Човек пронизва артерията на животно с остър предмет и поставя контейнер под налягане. Звярът не умира, ако за десети път угаси жаждата. След като воинът напълни купата си, той запълва дупката с глина, а кравата или овенът продължава да живее.
Но африканското племе Масаи е много негативно за месните продукти. Това не се дължи на факта, че те са идеологически вегетарианци. Просто добитък — основният доход, и да го ядат — означава да се лиши от статута, да намали неговото значение в обществото.
Интересни факти за Масаи
Масайското африканско племе се отличава с невероятни традиции, които може да изглеждат ужасни за европейски или славянски. Например, всички момичета претърпяват обрязване, заедно с момчета. Освен това, ако една жена не е направила това, тя никога няма да се ожени.
Също така, всички момичета трябва да бръснат главите си. Очевидно мъжете от племето не вярват, че женската красота се крие в дългите къдрици.
Всяко племе има свой отличителен знак — татуировки. Те обхващат както човешки тела, така и добитък. Само по този начин могат да разграничат овцете си от другите. Между другото, ако чуждестранен добитък случайно падна в племето, то веднага се връща. Никой още не е забравил за войнствеността на Масаи, дори след десетилетия на мирно съществуване.
заключение
Буквално поразителна оригиналност, която има племе Масаи. Снимка на всеки един от членовете му доказва войнственост и съвест. Също така често се вижда, че те се поставят над други африкански племена, както и европейци или американци, които посещават континента.
Освен това, когато колонизаторите дойдоха на територията на Африка, те всъщност се страхуваха и дори се страхуваха да се срещнат с Масаи. При всичко това европейците имат модерни технологии и оръжия, племето е примитивно. Трябва да се отбележи, че тази древна култура все още се запазва само заради неговата войнственост и нежелание да дари своите наследствени територии на колонизаторите.
Masai-a tribe of proud warriors, one of the most ancient and numerous throughout Africa. They live in Kenya and Tanzania. A distinctive feature of this tribe is that none of its members has no passport or any other document. Therefore, to determine the exact number impossible.
In the 15-16 centuries the Maasai led a nomadic life, they came from the banks of the Nile. In modern times, many of them, without the pressures of today’s realities, forced to become sedentary. However, not all of them give up, much of it still remained nomads.
Who are the Maasai?
Children under 14 years are considered the most happy Maasai. The tribe is not forcing them to learn something, to go to school, to engage in social work and so on. At this time they are just dancing, having fun and sometimes go hunting. However, none of the children refuses to personal cultivation, they watch adults, especially for a leader. Seeing how they act and what they do, kids can build their own model of behavior.
After 14 years the next 2-3 years, the Maasai walk and look. Gradually they come into the established structure of the tribe, where everyone has their duties. Teenagers are not immediately recognizable with his employment, they try themselves in all spheres. For example, one of the girls can be a cook, the other will begin to look after the children.
Then in 16-17 years the Maasai marry, build his own house, where they will live young cell of the society. Gradually there is an accumulation of funds. As banks in the country, status is determined by the number of head of cattle. The longer it takes, the higher the position in society. After the wedding begins the monastic life, formed person already knows exactly what responsibility falls on her. And this continues to old age.
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How the Maasai live?
160 km from Nairobi in a relatively big village is inhabited by Massai. The tribe to this day have preserved the original structure and way of life. Since the area where it lives, is not fertile soil, people are forced to deal with cattle. Your age each person defines just about, he has no passport, and a calendar for the Maasai to follow not used.
Each village has about 100 inhabitants. And all of them are members of this big family. It is headed by the leader. The way of life, accordingly, only Patriarchal. Modern men, because there are no wars, herding cattle. Previously it was the responsibility of the weaker sex. Women prepare food and grow children. Special education also is not present, simply young look up to their elders, imitating them in everything.
Three wives can have the leader of the Maasai. Tribe, of course, different militancy, but women are not affected. They deserve the respect and confidence of men a delicious meal. By the way, the leader defines his beloved wife every day. And I have to say his choice will directly from sweets cooked dinner.
Wedding Masai tribe
In Maasai wealth is accumulated by selling daughters. So a man with more girls, has a high status. The wedding begins with the groom comes to his bride’s house. Sitting on the threshold of her father, guarding home (a daughter is not stolen). Before handing his daughter, he determines how much a young guy will have to pay the cows.
The Bride must be a virgin. The wedding comes a lot of guests, each of which gives for the benefit of young a little (or a lot) of money. All the money collects in-law. The first time she will live together with young, doing the work of the Treasurer. As for the celebration, it is in standard mode – guests, fun, leading, holiday costumes and so on.
A Terrible tradition is that on the wedding night, wife will not sleep with her husband, and the master of ceremonies. This is due to the fact that a young man should not see the blood of their women of the Masai tribe.
If a warrior decided to marry again, a new bride he chooses is not the mother and first wife. The same things and followed. That is, how many brides have requested no male, they all are selected the one that was betrothed at the beginning.
Nutrition Maasai
Are Very unique eating and drinking tribe. Moreover, nervous people it is better not to get acquainted to the kitchen. A drink of the Masai is fresh blood. Sometimes it is diluted with milk. Production drink is as follows. A man with a sharp object punctures the artery of the animal and inserts under the pressure capacity. The beast doesn’t die, if only for a 10th time quench your thirst. After the warrior filled his Cup, he stops up the hole with clay and cow or sheep continue to live.
But for meat products African tribe Masai refers negatively. This is not due to the fact that they are ideological vegetarians. Just cattle – basic earnings and eat it — means to deprive themselves of status, to reduce their importance in society.
Interesting facts about Maasai
The African Masai tribe is characterised by the extraordinary traditions that for European or Slavic personcan seem terrible. For example, all the girls are circumcised, along with guys. Moreover, if a woman did this, she will never get married.
Also all the girls have bald shave my head. Apparently, the men of the tribe do not believe that women’s beauty lies in long hair.
Yet each tribe has a distinguishing mark-a tattoo. They are covered as human bodies and cattle. Only in this way grazing can they distinguish your RAM from someone else. By the way, if foreign cattle accidentally fell into the tribe, his immediate return. No one has forgotten about the warlike Masai, even after decades of peaceful coexistence.
Conclusion
Literally striking originality, which has the Masai tribe. Photos of each of its members proves the militancy and willfulness. Also often visible notes that they put themselves above other African tribes as well as Europeans or Americans visiting the continent.
Moreover, when the territory of Africa came the colonizers, they actually feared and even dreaded meeting with the Maasai. For all that the Europeans had modern technology and weapons, the tribe was primitive. Not to mention the fact that this ancient culture still preserved only through militancy and an unwillingness to give up their ancestral territory to the colonizers.
The Masai dance that is repeatedly seen in African documentaries is usually called the «jumping dance». This particular dance is performed by the men of the village, who leap into the air to show their strength and stamina as tribal warriors.
The Masai Jumping Dance
Each young man will jump as high as he can while the others stand in a circle and sing. The voices of the men get higher as the jumping increases. This jumping dance is as familiar to the Western world as the red-clad and beaded Masai warriors themselves. In the Masai language, this dancing competition is called the «adumu».
Though the jumping dance is the most unusual and best known, there are plenty of other traditional dances that the Masai perform. Masai dances are very structured and are performed for certain occasions.
There are dances for celebration when a lion is killed by the warriors, a dance for the blessing of cattle, and dances performed at wedding ceremonies. Most of the Masai dances are pretty simple, and consist of a lot of bending, but with the feet staying still on the ground.
Vocals Without Instruments
The Masai generally don’t use musical instruments when they are singing or dancing. All of their music is vocal, except for a large horn that is used for certain songs. The beads that both the men and women wear create a jingling sound themselves while the Masai jump and dance. The women occasionally wear bells or rattles for added accompaniment to the singing.
During singing and dancing performances, the movements of the head and neck are important. As the singers breathe out, the head is stuck out and then tipped farther back when they breathe in. This pattern creates a uniform «bobbing» of the Masai’s heads as they sing. Kind of like teenagers at a rock concert. Many Masai songs are sung in a call and response pattern, with the women singing one part and the men responding.
Teaching Through Dance
In recent years, the Masai have been performing their customary songs and dances for outsiders as a way of educating foreigners about their life and ways. These performances are one way of helping to keep their traditions alive as their way of life is slowly being changed by modern society. Much of their territory has been taken from them for ranchers and settlers, leaving the nomadic Masai without the space their cattle need. So they have to adapt.
If you are ever lucky enough to travel to Africa, and see the Masai yourself, try to find a tour guide who is familiar with the local villages. Quite often, the people are willing to perform their dances for visiting tourists. A true Masai dance is something not to be missed. Against the roasted brown backdrop of the African plains, the bright scarlet dancers are quite a sight.
Related articles about the Masai:
Masai — Main page
More about Masai culture
The warrior — A key Masai tradition
Review of «The White Masai» movie
Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai cattle — It’s importance in tradition and economy
About the vast Masai lands
Holidays in Masai country
Options for a Masai Mara safari
Masai language translations
Their history
Tribes in Kenya — Overview
Return from Masai Dance to the Homepage
Archaic societies of hunters and shepherds are usually organized on the basis of a set of rules, ceremonies and traditions that have been kept unaltered through the centuries, and Maasai people are no exception.
There are a series of rituals which are played out to respond to a series of needs or just out of superstition; in recent years though, some of these rites have been abandoned by the majority of the Maasai population.
One of the rites of the Masai tradition is the removal of children’s inferior incisor teeth, the reason for this practice is to be found in the attempt to saving children from tetanus contagion, that has been a cause of death, especially in the past.
One of the consequences of catching tetanus is the blocking of the jaws, that prevents from feeding as teeth remain closed; the removal of the two inferior incisors leaves an opening through which to feed and administer drug to the sick person.
The IV bags and syringes used today make this intervention no longer necessary.
Cases of canine teeth removal in children have been documented in some Maasai clans in Tanzania; according to a deeply rooted conviction, these teeth could cause children to catch serious diseases, such as diarrhea, vomit and fever.
To enjoy a day with Maasai people book a luxury hotel in Amboseli National Park
This belief is due to swollen gums given by the growth of canine teeth themselves; it is thought that gums become swollen because of worms growing inside the oral cave and setting off diseases; this explains the necessity of removing the teeth considered “guilty” of this swollenness.
The Maasai believe that, when they are engaged in the production of something, in order to obtain good results they have to go through a period of chastity; this is particularly relevant when producing poisons and the fermented beverage containing honey known as mead.
The preparation of mead in Masai society is carried out by a man and a woman living in a hut, kept apart from the others until the preparation comes to an end; this couple must abstain from engaging in sexual intercourses during the period of preparation.
The period of absolute chastity begins two days before starting producing the beverage and lasts about 6 or 7 days, the time needed to prepare mead, if the couple fails to meet this requirement, the mead will be undrinkable and the bees producing the honey will leave the village forever; a similar rule applies to those who prepare poisons.
There is another belief according to which a beard is a source of powers; people who have the power to bring rain, for example, are not allowed to cut their beard as they would lose their power; the same goes for warlocks and heads of villages since by cutting their beard all their strength and supernatural powers would leave them.
