Culture & Beliefs of the Masai

The Maasai believe in a single but dualistic God. The Maasai God has two opposing identities, the generous Black God (Engai Narok) and the vindictive Red God (Engai Nanyoki). It is the benevolent 'Narok' that has declared the Maasai tribe the rightful owners of all the world's cattle, much to the unease of their neighbours.

Maasai (also Masai, Masaai) culture centres obsessively around cattle. The Maasai measure a man's wealth by the amount of cattle and children he has. A man who has plenty of one, but few of the other is considered to be poor.

The culture is polygamous in nature and the prestige attached to childbirth means that even if a Maasai's wife falls pregnant by another man, the child will be brought up as his own.

Tribal ceremonies of the Maasai include the warrior jumping dance, where young warrior youths jump into the air to demonstrate their strength and agility. Until recently men had to kill a lion to earn the right to a wife but this practice has now largely ceased - although it is rumoured to continue in the remote regions of Kenya.

Circumcision (both male and female) is a rite of passage in Maasai society, where age is not measured in years but by membership of seven year age groups.

Both sexes also have one or two bottom teeth removed during infancy. Female circumcision is gradually being eliminated through government law and by Maasai who understand the serious health implications (the leading cause of death among women of the tribe is blood loss in childbirth as a result of circumcision).

Women are generally treated as second-class citizens in Maasai society.

Maasai history not written down but passed on orally by the male elders in an emanyatta ceremony one or two years after the closing of a seven year age group

The Traditional Maasai Dress

Maasai men are draped in red blankets, and are always accompanied with long wooden poles in hand, while their hair is often tinted with a red dye. The women dress similarly to other Tanzanian women but with a more excessive use of beaded jewellery. The Maasai's distinctive colour is red, and they always wear something, however small, of that colour.

The Traditional Maasai Diet

Traditionally, Maasai do not hunt, eat fish or vegetables; they feed almost exclusively off their cattle. A Maasai's main diet consists mainly of meat, milk and blood from cattle. Cows are more valuable to the Maasai alive, and so are only slaughtered on very special occasions.

Meat and milk are never eaten on the same day as the Maasai believe that feeding of the living and the dead at the same time insults their cattle.

Sheep and goats also play an important role in Maasai culture.

A Note on Photographing the Maasai

When encountering Maasai people it's important to ask permission before taking photographs. Clicking away with your camera without asking, whether you're driving past them as they walk down the road, or in their home village is considered disrespectful.

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