Ethnology project: Masai, Kenya

Environment

            The Masai people of Kenya were known for being powerful and ferocious people. They were also called, “Llmaasae”. They were nomadic, warlike people of a largely hamitic origin. They roamed the vast plains of east Africa grazing large herds of cattle on rich posture of the virgin grasslands which is now of Tarzania and Kenya. Sheep’s and goats were a source of meat to them instead of cattle because it was rarely slaughtered but mainly used for ceremonial purposes. A plant called “o-rupanti” which is a commiphora tree that they used for medicine but mainly for the children. The Masai live in kraals that were arranged in a circular form, which had a fence around the kraals mainly made out of thorns to keep out animals. The men constructed the fence while the women constructed the kraal, or hut.

Language

            A language that is shared within Kenya is the “Olmaa” language. The name derives from the Samburan and Llchamus culture. This language was first recorded by an early missionary, Reverend Dr. Johann Ludwig Kraft (1810-1881). Later on there was a bible that was published by the Bible Society of Kenya, Nairobi and was called “Biblia Sinyatti”. Also there was a dictionary of the Masai language by Reverend James Erhardt, a missionarythat was published in Wurtenberg, Germany in 1857. All the nouns in the Masai language have a prefix whether it be masculine, feminine, or neuter.

Gender Roles

            They had up to 5 or 7 clans that were divided into a number of divisions, and characteristics by cattle brands. Authority was constructed by age group and age set, whether they are circumcised or a natural leader. An Olaiguenani is selected, and leads the age groups through a series of rituals till old age. Most of the boys weren’t circumcised till they were in a mature state, not when they were young. To transfer from junior warrior to senior warrior they would have a special ceremony  called “Eunoto” which would take place in a special hut called “Enkang O Sinkira” were four days of rites are staged. The boy would come into the hut and sit on the same cowhide on which he was circumcised and have his head shaved by his mother, after that is done he is able to choose any girl to be his wife, and that would conclude the ceremony.

Subsistence

            Livestock consisted of cattle, sheep and goats, also donkeys and camels. Cattle were key to an individual or family in the Masai society. They would range from fifty to three hundred for a family and a wealthy individual would have an excess of one thousand cattle. To claim the cattle as there own they would either brand or sacrifice the skin of the animal and add a particular design or they would cut the ears in a way that makes it possible to identify the cattle or claim them if they were ever stolen or lost. The livestock would be traded for other types of livestock, money or other livestock products like milk or siege.

Economic System

            Milk was very important throughout the Masai economy. It was either drunk fresh, curdled, mixed with blood, made into butter or even sun dried on hides to make powered milk. Cows, goats and sheep were essential for this process. They would use the meat of the goat and sheep but not of the steers because they were used only for sacrifices in ceremonial occasions such as community events, or even marriage. They relied on the meat, milk and blood from the cattle because it was a source of protein and calorie needs.

Marriage

            Marriage ceremonies were arranged by the elders without consulting the bride or mother. Older men would have polygynous relationships which left the women young and at times even widowed and they can not remarry. The father would have most control with his family and traditionally as long as they were alive and well, there sons would not take control over anything till he passes away. If a woman is widowed after her husbands death, she would also be subordinate to her sons for management of the herd and livestock, but if she has no sons than she would have no protection what so ever. A bride is given a herd of cattle at marriage, and from there her sons will inherit herds of there own. If both parents die the oldest son is to inherit his fathers herd, the youngest son inherits his mother’s cattle and if they had any daughters, they would get nothing at all. 

Kinship (clans)

      Lineages with the Masai people extend up to one or two generations past the oldest living elders, making them patrilineal people. The lineages are identified through clans whose bonds and restrictions are now weak.

Religion

            The Masai believed that the sky and earth were just as one. They didn’t have any cattle and so they turned to god to bring them cattle from the sky brought down by a bark rope. There was a group called the Dorobo who were hunter and gatherers and did not receive any cattle from god and so they cut the rope losing the connection between heaven and earth. They believed that god had a direct link with the cattle. To them, cattle are a gift from god and so they symbolize this in a way of meat-eating and milk-drinking through rituals. This is why when they have ceremonies for a child being circumcised, marriage, and other ceremonies, the livestock are killed and the meat is consumed by everyone. They had villages called ritual villages were all there rituals and ceremonies would be held.

Artwork

            The Masai art consisted mainly of bead work. They had specific bead work for a warrior’s outfit, elder’s traditional objects and bridal costumes which all consisted of specific pieces of jewelry, a shield, a warriors spear, ceremonial headdress and much more. Through a woman’s art, it celebrates her skill, courage, elegance, warmth, and also a story can be told through her artwork.

Conclusion

            The Masai culture is a strong culture that still goes on till this day. There environment, the rituals they have, the roles each person plays throughout there culture is something that only sticks with them. Many people want to learn about the Masai tribe and people and know more about them. Since this culture is still going on till this day, they will be one to last a lifetime and nothing will change anything about them. The influence that the Masai people to our western cultures is a strong one. What they do and what we do is completely different and I think we can learn so much more about them than what we already know. The way they go through there daily activities, the depth behind there rituals are just some of the things that people of this day should learn and know more about.

Bibliography

http://www.masaikenya.org/masai.html

http://massai-association.org/art.html