The Masai people are a Nilotic ethnic group residing in Kenya and Northern Tanzania. They are the most well known tribe of the African ethnic groups. Their elaborate dress sense and array of colours that are distributed amongst the tribes clothing, is memorable for their expression through what they wear.
The language spoken by the Masai people is Maa and they are also educated in the official languages of Kenya and Northern Tanzania, which are English and Swahili. Despite often being encouraged by Kenyan and Tanzanian governments to abandon their faiths and traditional semi-nomadic lifestyle, the Masai people are true to their culture and continue to live in the way they wish.
History
Originating from the lower Nile Valley north of Lake Turkana, the Masai people began to migrate south in the 15th century. Ethnic groups that resided in these areas were forced and pushed aside by the Masai people where they remain to live their life of rich culture and belief.
Cushitic groups which were settled in these places when the Masai made their way inwards, were brought into their teachings and from then on the mixture of Cushitic and Nilotic populations were referred to as Nilo-Hamitic peoples.
Beliefs and lifestyle
The Masai people are well known for being fearless and having the reputation of being warriors and cattle-rustlers. Cushitic groups have inspired the Masai people to take teachings and use them as their own, such as circumcision, vocabulary terms and social organisation.
The Masai society is strongly patriarchal, with a large majority of elder men and retired elders making decisions and choices for other members of the Masai society. Matters that may cause confrontation or problems within the group will be resolved by the paying of cattle, which is their main source of food. Most Masai are Christian or Muslim in faith and have beliefs such as divination, prophecy and shamanistic healing.
Death
The passing on of Masai community members