Maasai People and Culture

The Maasai have a long tradition of pastoralism, but some have adopted a more settled lifestyle.
They speak a language of the Eastern Bantu language grouping, which also includes the languages of the Arusha and Baraguyu peoples of Tanzania.
Maasai origins are uncertain, but some scholars believe their ancestors migrated to the Rift Valley from southern Sudan around 1000 CE.

According to Maasai oral tradition, Knight Hurroo (Knight Arrow) is the originator of the Maasai people.
Knight Arrow means "beginner of the earth" in Maasai.
The Supreme God, Ngai, created Knight Arrow and his wife, and gave them a cattle and told them to live on the mountain.
Ngai is an androgynous god, meaning both male and female, and is associated with the north and presides over rain, fertility, the sun, and love.

The Maasai believe in a strict pastoral economy, with cattle being considered the greatest gift from God.
Cattle possessed the qualities of God and attest to God's greatness and generosity.
Meat-eating and milk-drinking are important religious experiences, occurring at critical times like birth, initiation, and circumcision.
Young Maasai males traditionally subsist entirely on milk, meat, and blood from their herds.
Women, children, and older men supplement their diets with agricultural products like corn and beans.
Maasai land has two rainy seasons, a long rainy season from March to May and a short rainy season from November to December.

Males between 15 and 30 are junior morin or warriors, responsible for protecting the herds.
After age 30, they become senior warriors, living among the rest of the Maasai people and serving as a sort of home or guardian.
After another interval, men become junior elders, and eventually, senior elders who make decisions for the entire group.

The British colonizers disrupted Maasai life, limiting their land through treaties of 1904 and 1912.
The Maasai people continued to hold onto their traditional way of life for a while, despite British colonization.
The British romanticized Maasai lifestyle and warrior tradition, leading to their popularization in the rest of the world.

Tradition of pastoralism, with some adopting a settled lifestyle
Language belongs to Eastern Bantu language grouping, shared with Arusha and Baraguyu peoples of Tanzania

Originator of Maasai people is Knight Hurroo (Knight Arrow) according to oral tradition
Knight Arrow means "beginner of the earth" in Maasai
Supreme God Ngai is androgynous, associated with north, rain, fertility, sun, and love
Ngai created Knight Arrow and his wife, gifting them cattle and instructing them to live on the mountain

Strict pastoral economy, with cattle seen as greatest gift from God
Cattle possess God's qualities, attesting to God's greatness and generosity
Meat-eating and milk-drinking are important religious experiences during birth, initiation, and circumcision
Young Maasai males subsist on milk, meat, and blood from herds
Women, children, and older men supplement diets with agricultural products like corn and beans
Land has two rainy seasons: March to May and November to December

Males between 15 and 30 are junior morin or warriors, responsible for protecting herds
After 30, they become senior warriors, living among the rest of the Maasai and serving as guardians
After an interval, men become junior elders, and eventually, senior elders making decisions for the group

British colonization disrupted Maasai life, limiting land through 1904 and 1912 treaties
Maasai people maintained traditional way of life despite colonization
British romanticized Maasai lifestyle and warrior tradition, leading to global popularity

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