The Maasai people are an indigenous nomadic pastoralist ethnic tribe in Kenya. Located mostly around national parks and within conservation areas in the Great East African Rift Valley.
The Maasai people speak the “Maa” language. It is their mother tongue along side Kiswahili and English, the national languages of Kenya. They are one of the few native tribes among the 50 tribes in Kenya. They have kept most of their culture and traditions intact and alive.
Their settlement around the national parks and conservation areas has made the Maasai people famous to the tourists. Who visit the country on wildlife safaris as they take time to go on community visits to the Maasai villages. Maasai craft markets and the Bomas of Kenya immersing themselves in the Maasai cultural practices and environments.
The Maasai originally migrated from the North of Lake Turkana (situated in North-West Kenya). In search of fresh grazing grounds for their cattle. Passing through the highlands of Kenya until they settled in the savanna grass plains. In the Southern part of Kenya within the regions of the Great Rift valley. From here, some of them continued moving into Tanzania as is that they are nomadic-pastoralists. They would raid cattle from other communities along the way.
The Maasai believe that all the cattle belong to them. As their god “Engai” gave them the cattle. So raiding communities and rustling cattle was their way of reclaiming their herds of cattle. So, a Maasai man had to have many heads of cattle. And many children to earn his place in society among the elite.
Traditionally, the diet of the Maasai is was made up of raw meat, milk from their livestock. During drought, blood was drawn from the from the cattle.
The Maasai have a vibrant dance and music culture. An olaranyani (song leader), always leads the groups in songs. Ceremonies like coming of age (Eunoto), circumcision and story telling are some of the traditional cultural practices of the Maasai people.
Originally, the Maasai people use to cover their bodies with animal skin as their clothing until the 1960’s when they replaced then skins with the “Shukas”, the bright colored (red, blue, checkered, stripped) cloth they wrap around their bodies. Red being the most favored color by the Maasai.
When you visit Maasai Mara national reserve, you will get the chance to witness some of the traditional practices, songs and dance of the Maasai people when you visit one of the Maasai communities in the area.
With strong cultural and traditional practices, the Maasai remain one of the few native tribes in Kenya who have proudly preserved their traditional ways amidst urbanization.
