The Maasai Community of Kenya

Meet the Maasai and experience their culture

Experience the fascinating culture of the Maasai community at Nairobi National Museum, Narok Museum, the annual Esiankiki Night Festival and the Eunoto ceremony.

Spiritual leaders: Oloiboni and Loibon

Spiritual leaders, known as Oloiboni or Loibon, were common in each Maasai family.

Oloiboni had mystical as well as medicinal healing powers. They predicted the future and healed people from physical, mental and spiritual illnesses. They were in charge of the rituals, led the community in sacrifices, officiated ceremonies, and advised elders on spiritual aspects. They were also prophets, shamans and seers.

Pictured here is a horn with a leather lid. It was used by a Loibon to store medicine.

Migration: guarding the cattle and protecting the community

In the 16th century, the Maasai began migrating southwards from the lower Nile River. From the 18th century they began settling in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. Today they reside near East African game parks.

A cowbell to keep track of the calves

This iron metal cowbell (Oltuala) has a loud sound, which helped keep track of the grazing calves.

Emanyattas: ceremonial Maasai homesteads

Emanyattas are ceremonial homesteads built for particular cultural ceremonies such as eunoto. These houses are made of mud, sticks and grass, and plastered with cow-dung. Traditionally, Maasai houses are built by women.

Eunoto ceremony: from boy to warrior

Upon circumcision, boys graduated to young warriors popularly known as Morans Ilmurran. The ceremony is held every 10-15 years. It marks a new age-set.

A Maasai warrior shield

Maasai warriors are known for being strong and courageous. Traditionally they protected the cattle and community with long spears and buffalo skin shields, which were decorated in red, white and black dye.

A Maasai warrior

The Maasai warriors traditionally had braided hair, which is dyed with red ochre. They wore beaded necklaces, ornaments and capes (shukas) made of cowhide.

Imotonyi headdress

A Maasai warrior is portrayed here wearing a Imotonyi headdress, symbolizing that he has been circumcised. The headdress is made of ostrich feathers and cow skin. He is holding a spear and shield.

A sign of bravery

This Maasai warrior is likely to have killed a lion. He is wearing a headdress made of a lions mane symbolizing his bravery.

Emuratare: a girl's rite of passage

Traditionally, as part of an elaborate rite of passage called 'Emuratare', young girls were circumcised around the age of 15. The ceremony initiated young Maasai girls into adulthood and then into early arranged marriages.

The girl in this portrait is wearing a cowrie beads headband (isikira), which indicates that she has undergone this rite of passage.

In Kenya today, female circumcision is illegal and the communities are encouraged to adopt alternative initiation rites which do not involve female genital mutilation.

Enkononkoi necklace: a symbol of the passage of rites

This Enkononkoi, blue beaded necklace, is strung on a cowhide thong. It was made and worn to show that a woman had many daughters to be circumcised or married. It was also given to men by their fathers as an inheritance.

Beautiful ornaments

Portrayed here is a young woman wearing traditional beaded and metallic ornaments, signifying her age and marital status.

Maasai blanket: a woven identity

The Maasai blanket or 'red shuka cloth' is perhaps one of the most recognizable symbols of Kenya and the Maasai identity. Its origin is not known, but it could have arrived with the Scottish missionaries in early 20th century, becoming increasingly popular from the 1960s onwards.

The Maasai blanket is dominantly red, and made of strong thread, enabling them to endure the harsh weather.

Jumping dance

Traditionally, Maasai warriors are famous for their singing and 'jumping dance.' A sign of strength and to impress the unmarried women, the warriors compete to jump the highest.

Waist strap for traditional dancing

This long leather strap was cut from cow skin and decorated with coloured beads. It was made by a skilled crafts-girl and worn around the waist by warriors as an accessory when performing traditional dances.

A blue bracelet

The Maasai are known for making decorative beaded jewelry including necklaces, earrings, headbands, wrist and ankle bracelets.

Maasai warrior apron

Worn by Maasai warriors, this apron was made of cow skin and decorated with metal and red, white, yellow, orange, green and blue beads.

A leather bag with beadwork

To make this bag, buffalo hide was folded while still wet, and the edges were stitched. When the hide was dry, the hairs were removed using a metal scraper. The bag was used to store food and personal objects.