Kenya is well known to be inhabited by
the Maasai people with typical cultures. These Maasai people express their
cultures through various ceremonies and rituals.
Among these ceremonies
includes circumcision of both boys and girls, marriages, warrior shaving
ceremony where the best shaver can be identify among the chosen group, meat
eating ceremony where guys compete eating in different styles in the bush.
Other ceremonies include milk-drinking ceremony among others. All these
ceremonies signify a different meaning in the Maasai people.
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| Maasai warriors practicing in the Manyatta |
Traditionally, boys and
girls must undergo through these initiations for minors prior to circumcision.
However, many of these initiations concern men while women's initiations focus
on circumcision and marriage and men form age-sets moving them closer to
adulthood.
In addition to the Masai People, they have a reputation of
being fierce warriors. Warrior hood prepares the young males to be not only
responsible for themselves but for their community as well.
This is because
they are known for their bravery and courage. Typically Masai warriors are
never seen without their sharply honed spears during the entire life time.
Their main responsibility is to protect the homestead, maintain water sources
for the community, and protect the livestock from wild animals and theft. It is
true that when they surrounded a marauding lion, they crossed on it and speared
it to death without any fear. This is the reason why the lions fear guys with
red shuka.
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| Maasai girls ready for circumcision |
Masai women
are in charge of taking care of the entire home like milking cows, fetching water and firewood, bearing
children as many as they can because
children are considered bringing wealth, preparing food for the entire
family, repairing their homes, milking the cows and tending their small
children. Children are taught to respect their elders, and they quickly learn
the ways of Masai family life as they grow. Young girls are taught to care for
domestic duties and boys are instructed in the care and protection of livestock
from attack by wild animals.
Moreover, their nomadic way of life
led to no attachments to possessions, and togetherness banded by the age sets
of those who underwent circumcision ritual together.
Likewise, a Masai woman
belongs to the entire age-set and sexual jealousy does not exist with these
people as they are abiding with these norms traditions.
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| Maasai warriors competing on jumping race |
However, women do not have
their own age-set but are recognized by that of their husbands.
Ceremonies are an expression of Maasai culture and every ceremony is a new
beginning of life. They are rites of passage, and every Maasai child is eager
to go through these vital stages of life. These cultures are of great values to Kenya and
attract tourists from both locally and international tourists and thus Kenya safaris remain to
be of more vital as far as wildlife and cultures are concern.
Sharon Sheery
www.soinafricasafaris.com
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