A Maasai Bride's Treasured Trove

Beadwork jewellery is an important part of Maasai culture. For centuries, jewellery has been used as an everyday adornment to represent social aspects established in the community, like age sect and marital status. They are also given as gifts at ceremonies and to visitors as a sign of gratitude and respect.   

Traditionally, the art of beadwork was passed from generation to generation, with mothers teaching their daughters when young. 

Bridal jewellery is a more elaborate affair, with many parts that are worn from head to toe. To know more about bridal jewellery, we spoke to Anna Sileyan, a Maasai woman in the Losimingori village of Arusha, Tanzania.

She married her husband Rafael in March 2015. Traditionally, the bride's parents choose the groom, but Anna chose Rafael as her husband after meeting him in the market where she worked as a waitress in one of the restaurants. 

Her parents were initially forcing her to marry someone who was not ready for her marriage. She shares, “I was only able to complete my primary school and Form 1 because of Rafael. The other boy came to school and asked for me to be removed.”

She is now happily married to Rafael. She has a child named Elisha, which means “Lightness”.

In December 2014, two months before her wedding, she received bridal jewellery. As per the traditions, the groom has to buy the jewellery, and his mother brings it to the house of the bride. Along with it, she also brings water, sugar and clothes.

Some norms are followed for marriage, Anna shared. “For example, between the engagement and the marriage, you are not allowed to see the bride.” Another norm is that the groom cannot bring his bride without the jewellery. Even if he has to sell his cows, he must buy jewellery."

Anna’s sister-in-law, Nesriyan, makes bridal jewellery and sells it in the market. She graciously agreed to show us how the bridal jewellery is adorned.

With the passage of time, there are many changes that can be seen in Maasai society. Earlier, the bridal jewellery was made by the mother of the bride. But now, they are mostly bought in the market.