The Maasai Legend of The Gift of Cattle

In the beginning the Maasai did not have any cattle. One day, Maasinta, the first Maasai, was called by God. The God said “I want you to make a large enclosure, and when you have done so, come back and inform me” Maasainta did as he was instructed and came back to reveal what he had done. God told him to go and stand outside the wall of the house for he would give him something called cattle. He asked him to be quiet and to not be surprised if he sees or hears anything.

The next morning when Maasinta was waiting, he heard the sounds of thunder and God released a long leather thong from heaven to Earth. Cattle descended down this thong into the enclosure. The surface of the Earth shook so vigorously that his house almost fell over. Maasinta was petrified but did not make a sound.

While the cattle were still descending, the Dorobo, house mate of Maasinta, woke up from his sleep. He went outside to see and was shocked to see the cattle coming down. Out of utter shock he said, “Ayieyieyie!”.

The God took back the cattle on hearing the sound as he thought Maasinta was the one who made that sound: “Is it that these cattle are enough for you? I will never do this again to you, so you better love these cattle in the same way I love you”. This is the reason the Maasai are so fond of cattle.

Maasinta was very upset with the Dorobo for having cut the God’s thing and cursed him and said, “May the milk of my cattle be poison if you taste it”. This is the reason why the Dorobo still live in the forest and are not given any milk.