Maasai Research Paper
The Maasai
The Maasai are one of the many southern-most tribes located in Kenya. They are physically related, and also in many other forms related to the Samburu and Turkana. The Maasai have a relatively complex culture and traditions but for many years they were unheard of. By the late 1800's we soon discovered more about the Maasai, mostly from their oral histories. In this paper we will look at their history and origin, social structure, religion, economy, and communication.
Origin and History
It is presumed that the Maasai came from the north, probably from the region of the Nile Valley in Sudan. Also presumed is that they left this area sometime between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, migrating southwards towards the Great …show more content…
These sexually diseases limit population by killing those living as well as causing infertility in Maasai women. One in five adults have a venereal disease such as gonorrhea and syphilis, which are two of the leading diseases that cause infertility in women. Another force which limits fertility is draught. It is found that during draught, the seasonal malnutrition decrease fertility by affecting the timing of menopause, increasing the chances of miscarriages and stillbirths, and affecting the ability to breastfeed. The population limiting shown only emphasizes how the Maasai will adapt to their surroundings and environment and how they can successfully distribute food and …show more content…
When no stories are written, it is vital that the storyteller does not exaggerate, otherwise people's words would be worth nothing. The Maasai culture doesn't write any of their history down either, but rather depend on the elders of the tribe to pass the stories down from generation to generation. If people are exaggerating the stories, or changing the stories then the listeners would receive and pass down the wrong interpretation. The Maasai are a high context culture. They understand the context in which a story is told. The storyteller assumes that everyone that is listening will have already heard the other stories necessary to understand stories later told. The knowledge is gained from the past. This is another reason why older people of the tribe tell stories. It is assumed that the young will never discover anything important, for knowledge is gained from the
The Maasai are one of the many southern-most tribes located in Kenya. They are physically related, and also in many other forms related to the Samburu and Turkana. The Maasai have a relatively complex culture and traditions but for many years they were unheard of. By the late 1800's we soon discovered more about the Maasai, mostly from their oral histories. In this paper we will look at their history and origin, social structure, religion, economy, and communication.
Origin and History
It is presumed that the Maasai came from the north, probably from the region of the Nile Valley in Sudan. Also presumed is that they left this area sometime between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, migrating southwards towards the Great …show more content…
These sexually diseases limit population by killing those living as well as causing infertility in Maasai women. One in five adults have a venereal disease such as gonorrhea and syphilis, which are two of the leading diseases that cause infertility in women. Another force which limits fertility is draught. It is found that during draught, the seasonal malnutrition decrease fertility by affecting the timing of menopause, increasing the chances of miscarriages and stillbirths, and affecting the ability to breastfeed. The population limiting shown only emphasizes how the Maasai will adapt to their surroundings and environment and how they can successfully distribute food and …show more content…
When no stories are written, it is vital that the storyteller does not exaggerate, otherwise people's words would be worth nothing. The Maasai culture doesn't write any of their history down either, but rather depend on the elders of the tribe to pass the stories down from generation to generation. If people are exaggerating the stories, or changing the stories then the listeners would receive and pass down the wrong interpretation. The Maasai are a high context culture. They understand the context in which a story is told. The storyteller assumes that everyone that is listening will have already heard the other stories necessary to understand stories later told. The knowledge is gained from the past. This is another reason why older people of the tribe tell stories. It is assumed that the young will never discover anything important, for knowledge is gained from the