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Kicking it with the
Maasai |
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Polyglot Kenya is a fusion of colorful cultures
and people. Although the official language is Swahili and English is widely
spoken - Kenya is home to over 70 tribes, many of which speak their own
dialect. Many cultures are inevitably losing their heritage and customs to the
modern world and it can be, as a foreigner, very difficult (if not absolutely
impossible) to distinguish the tribal background of the common Kenyan.
This cannot be said for the instantly recognizable Maasai, whose
colorful culture and traditions have become a symbol of tribal Africa. In fact,
it is the Maasai shield that appears on the Kenyan national flag, and when one
thinks of a Kenyan tribesman, the picture of a spear carrying Maasai warrior
draped in red blankets is usually the first image that appears. Surprisingly,
the Maasai are not the majority tribe in Africa. That honor goes to the Kikuyu,
who account for at least a fifth of Kenya's populations and remain Kenya's most
powerful tribe politically.
The Maasai are pastoralist nomads who live
in an area comprising of south western Kenya and northern Tanzania. If you are
going to Masai Mara than you will inevitably run into the Maasai. If you choose
to camp out in the park, rather than stay in the lodges, than you actually get
to integrate more with the Maasai. The Maasai not only guard the camps but they
perform ritual dances, sell artifacts, and socialize with tourists. You also
get to visit their nearby Maasai village. It's all a little touristy but in the
end your meeting with the Maasai, along with all the wildlife you see, make the
Masai Mara National Park the highlight of a visit to Kenya.
Right: The Maasai awaiting the arrival of their new
chief |
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| Welcoming the new chief into the Maasai
village |
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| Crowning ceremony for the new Maasai chief |
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| The new Maasai chief in his new home |
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| A birds eye view of the Maasai village |
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Above: The famous jumping dance. Maasai males spend
many hours of the day practicing jumping in one spot. The reason for this is
the greater height a Maasai male can jump, the less dowry he will have to pay
for a wife.
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| The new Maasai chief and his harem. |
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| Despite having a reputation for being fearless
warriors and lion-killers, the Maasai's could use some work on their drinking
skills |
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| The Maasai chief is tragically killed by a stray
spear |
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| The Maasai appoint their new chief |
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