The Maasai

A detailed Summary of The Maasai

Geographical Location: East Africa, in Kenya and Tanzania

Neighboring Tribes: Samburu, Baraguyu (Ilumbma), Wa-Arusha, Njemps.

Geographical sections of Maasai land: Ilkinsongo (largest), Ilpurka (2nd largest), Iloitai, Ilmalapato, Iloodokilani, Ilkeekonyokie, Ilkaputiei, Ildamat, Ilsiria, Ilwuasinkishu, Ildalalekutuk and Ilaitayiok.

Each section has it's own name, territory, dialect, ceremonies, ways of building houses and kraals and leadership authority.

Staple food: Milk, ghee, meat, blood of cattle, various herbs and plants.

1) Lengipaata - A ceremony boys undertake just before circumcision.

2) Emorta - It is the circumcision ceremony. It initiates boys into warrior hood.

3) Eunoto - It is the graduation of warriors into elder hood.

4) Olngesherr - Confirmation of total elder hood.

Four major stages of a Maasai's life:

1) Ikera - Youth (before circumcision).

2) Emarota - Youth (after circumcision).

The Maasai are a close-knit society, where every member is just as important as another. Uncircumcised youths (Inker

The actual marriage ceremony is simple. The bride's head is shaved and anointed with lamb fat, and bands of beautiful beadwork are placed around her head. The bride and groom are both blessed and washed with milk, and green grass is tied onto their shoes and clothes. After drinking the honey beer brewed from their suitor's presents, the bride's father and his age-mates wish the couple prosperity and many children. The bride is warned not to look back toward her family's kraal until she has reached her husband's place, for it is believed that if she does she will turn into stone out of grief for what she is leaving behind.

In Maasai tradition, the husband is the head of the family. The wife is responsible for running the household, but has little say in making major decisions. A wife will always try to give her husband as many children as she can, because of the importance of children in Maasailand. A man may marry as many wives as he chooses, and a married woman may have lovers. A woman may even have children by a lover, but the children will always belong to her husband. While it is acceptable to have children by other men, it is a matter of great pride to have children who resemble one's husband. Therefore, women will always see to it that during fertile times they are with their husbands and not with their lovers.

Before she will talk to her new husband or enter his or his family's house, the bride must receive gifts. Each member of her new family, her husband's father, mother, brother, sisters and even his friends, gives her a present of livestock. The wealth of gifts she receives depends on how large the family is. When she is satisfied, she will enter her new, house, which is at first the house of her husband's mother. For two days, until her husband's mother shaves her head, the new bride will not sleep with her husband, nor will her husband eat food from the house she is staying in. Later on, the new bride will build a house of her own.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Elders Ilpayiani, Ildalalekutuk Ilaitayiok, Maasailand Maasai, Maasai Elders, Maasai Circumcised, Njemps Geographical, Olngesherr Confirmation, girl's family, Emarota Youth, Ikera Youth, girl's parents, Tanzania Language, girl's parents honey, milk home girl's, girl's mother, circumcision 2, youth circumcision, elder hood, home girl's, milk home, home girl's parents, girl's family accepts, allowed marry, build house,

Approximate Word count = 1772
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History