Masai Warriors - Maasai Morans

The Masai people are probably best known because of the numerous traditions and ceremonies performed by Maasai men some in order to become Masai warriors.

The best known ceremony is the warrior-jumping dance. During this ceremony, a young Maasai Moran (warrior) leaps into the air from a standing position. This is done in order to display their strength and agility.

Until very recently, in order to earn the right to have a wife, a Maasai warrior was required to have killed a lion. Officially this practice has stopped. However, there is evidence that it continues in the remote regions of Kenya.

In earlier times, young boys were required to build a new village and live in it for years as part of the passage to manhood. This custom is dying out due to lack of land.

During the drought season, both warriors and boys take the responsibility of herding the livestock. The elders are direct and advise on day-to-day activities.

Hunting a lion is a tradition for Masai warriors. It was both fun and dangerous. Lion hunting is viewed by the Maasai tribe as a sign of bravery and achievement.

Solo lion hunting was common. However, due to the decline of the lion population, solo lion hunting is discouraged. Warriors now hunt lions in groups. Group hunting gives the lion population a chance to grow.

Customary laws did not allow the masai warriors to hunt a lion that had been weakened by drought, trap or poison. The Maasai people also believe that females are the bearers of life. One cannot therefore hunt a lioness or kill it unless it poses threat to human or livestock.

Masai Woman

Maasai women are easily identified by their shaved heads, bright clothing and beads. They also remove one of the bottom teeth.

Circumcision is performed on both women and men. The elder men circumcise the teenage boys and the elder women circumcise the teenage girls.

Attempts by human rights organisations and the Kenyan government to stamp out female circumcision have failed. This is partly because the Masai women defend the practice very vigorously.

The Masai women have a strong voice in their culture. They are always busy doing chores such as building huts, milking cows, fetching water many miles away and hollowing out gourds to store foods. They also decorate gourds and make elaborate jewellery.

A Maasai woman is by birth a member’s of her father’s family line. She cannot own land or cattle. The Masai women are minors in their culture and have to be always represented by their father or husband in important matters.

Masai Homesteads and Huts

The Maasai people traditionally live in the kraal. This is a compound within which is mud houses.

The Masai’s Inkangitie or homesteads are the traditional home settings. They are normally arranged in a circular fashion. Their fences are made by men using four different types of trees.

Women construct the huts. The Masai huts are built from dried cattle dung. Homesteads are traditionally shared by more than one family. However, due to the current land systems in the Maasai region, homesteads occupied by a single family are now common.

Masai Warriors >> Maasai Morans >> Kenya Masai >> African Warriors