Maasai are an ethnic group living in Northern Tanzania, Central and Southern Kenya . They are the famous local populations due to their resident population near many game parks of Africa. They can be easily distinguished by their customs and dress. The language of the Maasai speak is called Maa!
Origin
According to their widely popular oral history, the Maasai originated from the lower Nile valley and then started migrating sout , to Northern Kenya to Central Tanzania between the 17th and late 18th century.
Considered one of the tallest people in the world with average height of 6 ft 3 inches, the Maasai community lead a traditional semi-nomadic lifestyle, and have continued their age-old customs.
Food
Traditionally, the Maasai diet consisted of raw milk, raw meat, and raw blood from cattle.Today, the stable diet of the Maasai consists of cow’s milk and maize-meal.The famous food is a solid porridge known as ‘ugali’ and is eaten with milk.
Music
Maasai love their music and dance.They have a song leader called Olaranyani who sings the melodies and the music is consisting of rhythms that is provided by a chorus of vocalists singing harmonies.
Maasai Homes
Maasai still lead a semi-nomadic life, their houses are semi permanent and loosely constructed. Small, circular houses are built by the Maasai women using cow dung, grass, mud and wood.
Maasai and their cattle
The Maasai tribe has a deep relationship with their cattle. This close bond lead them into following a nomadic way of life and move according to availability water and food for their large herds of cattle.
Maasai dressing
Traditionally Maasai used to be dressed in animal skins, but the modern day Maasai dresses in sheets called “shuka”mostly red in colour which they wrap around the body. They team it up with lot of traditionally made beaded jewellery in their hands and neck. Occasionally they may change into differently colored sheets.
Maasai place a lot of beauty in Ear piercing, and both men and women can be seen wearing metal hoops on their stretched earlobes.
Employment
Labor work among traditional herding Maasai isvery clearly divided. The man’s responsibility is to protect his cattle and find them good pasture land and water sources. Women take charge of raising children, maintain the house, cook, and do the milking of cattle .
Asanja -Maasai Community Safari
When you plan your Safari with Asanja, your Asanja private safari includes a visit to a Maasai Village. You are driven to the Maasai Village in your private 4×4 safari vehicle and a cultural program is arranged by the Maasai people.
You also get to visit their homes & the schools. Keep in mind the Maasais expect to the tipped before you leave the Maasai Village. A good tip is anything above USD 50.
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