Traditions

By Erika Mendoza

Body moditication

Maasai people modify their body to express art. The piercing and stretching of the earlobes with stone, wood and bones has been common among the Maasai, they wear earrings with beads in the lobe of the stretched ear and small perforations in the upper part, for them this is a symbol of respect and wisdom This custom has now disappeared among the youngest members of the tribe.

Another activity that Maasai people practice to modify their bodies in early childhood is the extraction of canine teeth, as a remedy against diarrhea and vomiting.

Music and dance

The Maasia are known for their dance f, which is traditionally performed by the warriors of the tribe.

This dance is known in “Maa” as “adumu” or “aigus”. The Masai warriors form a semicircle and take turns to jump to the center, as high as possible, without letting their heels touch the ground. While each man jumps, the others sing a sharp song whose tone depends on the height of the jump.

Traditional Masai music follows a call and response pattern called “namba”. A known vocalist called “olaranyani” sings the melody, and everybody sings at the same time. They move the head back and forth to follow the rythm of song.

Hair and Clothes

For the Maasai, their appearance is very important, it is part of their identity. The most famous cloth is “shùkà”, a sheet of cloth that wraps around the body.

The color of the Masai attire depends on age and gender. After their circumcision, young men will wear black for several months. Older men generally wear red wraps, while women generally wear for plaid, striped or patterned pieces of cloth. Their sandals are made of leather and tires.

Maasai beads are famous for their complexity, they use different materials to make them such as clay, shells, ivory and currently colorful glass beads. Every color used has a meaning: white means peace, blue is the color of water and red is the symbol of warriors and courage.

Most of the Maasai men and women shave their heads during rites of initiation, such as marriage and circumcision.

Masai warriors are the only ones allowed to grow their hair, and generally wear it in thin braids. They are very proud of their position in the tribe, they are adorned with earrings, necklaces, bracelets and other beads. In special events they paint in red their skin in order to represent courage and resistance to pain. They usually wear a knotted made on brightly colored shoulders, usually in red with geometric designs, on other pieces of clothing, a blanket that is knotted around the neck to protect themselves from the cold. Their weapons are the spear, the machete and the “o’ringa” or “rungu”.