Meet the Maasai

The Maasai are known to be one of the oldest and culturally rich communities. They are a Nilotic ethnic group, predominantly settled in Kenya and northern Tanzania.

The name Maasai means ‘people who speak Maa’, which is their native language.

Cattle is a very integral part of the community's lifestyle and tradition. For the Maasai, cattle is seen as a form of wealth. The cattle herd size indicates the status in the community. They are a highly valued source of pride and a symbol of wealth.

The Maasai are a traditionally patriarchal society. Maasai men are born and raised to be Morans (warriors) to protect the cattle herd and community. They are largely in control of consultations, decision-making, and conflict resolution, among different age groups and clans. 

Women take care of their children and look after the home. Their responsibility includes taking care of household chores, like fetching water and firewood, milking the cattle, and cooking for the family. Women are also the ones who construct the houses.

The Morans or warriors are one of the most important stages in Maasai society. Young boys from the ages of 12-15 are circumcised and initiated into the warrior stage.

The youth engage themselves in hunting to prove that they are strong, dependable and confident in protecting the Maasai land. 

They are also sent out to take care of calves and lambs to learn skills like control while herding the cattle in the right direction, sensing the needs of animals, building their stamina and strength by walking long distances, all of which is a required skill set as a Moran.

An important element of Maasai culture is beaded jewellery. The art of making jewellery is passed on from mothers to their daughters.

Jewellery is used as an everyday adornment to represent wealth, beauty, strength, marital status, social status, and other important cultural elements. They are also presented at ceremonies, at rites of passage, and to visitors as a sign of gratitude and respect.

Another component of Maasai identity is the Shuka. It’s a rectangular cotton fabric that is wrapped around the body, over the shoulders. It is worn by both men and women.

Over time, the Maasai society has seen a lot of changes with the increasing influence of modern technology, Government interventions and interactions with members of different communities.

An important intervention has been education. Many young members of society are now opting for higher education. Their biggest motivation is the help their family and village by providing resources that are lacking, like water, health or opening up schools.