- The Maasai -
The Maasai are an indigenous African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in northern Tanzania. Due to their distinctive customs, dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa, they are among the most well-known African ethnic groups internationally. The Maasai population has been estimated at 883,000 and according to their own oral history, they originated from the lower Nile valley and began migrating south around the fifteenth century. The Maasai territory reached its largest size in the mid-nineteenth century, and covers almost all of the Great Rift Valley.
Maasai are pastoralist and have resisted the urging of the Tanzanian government to adopt a more sedentary lifestyle. They have demanded grazing rights to many of the national parks. They stood against slavery and lived alongside most wild animals with an aversion to eating game and birds. Maasai society never condoned traffic of human beings, and outsiders looking for people to enslave avoided the Maasai.
( 2008 Xpedition Members learn to dance with the Maasai )
( 2008 Xpediton Member, Elaine, is welcomed by the Maasai women )
Maasai's society is strongly patriarchical in nature with elder men, sometimes joined by retired elders, deciding most major matters for the tribe. A full body of oral law covers many aspects of behavior. Normally payment in cattle will settle matters. An out of court process called "amitu", to make peace, or "arop", which involves a substantial apology, is also practiced. The Maasai are monotheistic, and their God is named Enkai. Many Maasai have become Christian, and to a lesser extent, Muslim.
( 2008 Xpedition members interview the Maasai Chief )
Traditional Maasai lifestyle centers around their cattle which constitutes the primary source of food. The measure of a man's wealth is in terms of cattle and children. A herd of 50 cattle is respectable, and the more children the better. A man who has plenty of one but not the other is considered to be poor. A Maasai myth relates that God gave them all the cattle on earth, leading to the belief that rustling cattle from other tribes is a matter of taking back what is rightfully theirs, a practice that has become much less common.
The traditional Maasai house is either loaf-shaped or circular, and is constructed by women. The structural framework is formed of timber poles fixed directly into the ground and interwoven with a lattice of smaller branches, which is then plastered with a mix of mud, sticks, grass, cow dung and urine, and ash. The house is small, measuring about 6 feet x 12 feet and standing only 5 feet high. Within this space the family cooks, eats, sleeps, socializes and stores food, fuel and other household possessions. Small livestock are also often accommodated within the house.
( Inside of a Maasai House )
Villages are enclosed in a circular fence built by the men, usually of thorns. At night all cows, goats and sheep are placed in an enclosure in the center, safe from wild animals.
The maasai people have traditionally viewed the killing of lions as a right of passage. Historically, lion hunts were done by individuals, however, due to reduced lion populations, hunts done solo are discouraged by elders. Most hunts are now partaken by groups of 10 warriors. Group hunting gives the lion population a chance to grow. Maasai customary laws prohibit killing a sick or infirm lion. The killing of lionesses is also prohibited unless provoked.
The Maasai do not eat game meat, and utilize the bodies of their killed lions for three products; the mane, tail and claws. The mane is beaded by women of the community, and given back to the hunter, who wears it over his head on special occasions to avoid evil spirits.
The lion's tail is stretched and softened by the warriors, then handed over to the women for beading. The lion tail is considered the most valuable part of the lion.
( Maasai Warriors armed with a traditional spear and club )
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