Maasai
Pastoralists of the Rift Valley; the age-set ceremonies Enkipaata and Eunoto.
Kenya
TanzaniaMaaCustoms they practice
3 recorded rites, each with its steps and its WHY.
Enkipaata and Eunoto · the Maasai age-set passages
The Maasai make men in cohorts: Enkipaata inducts boys into a named age-set of warriors (ilmurran); years later Eunoto graduates them to junior elderhood, marked by the shaving of the long warrior hair.
Maasaifor men
Emuratta · Ear Piercing
Emuratta is a rite of passage for Maasai girls, marking their transition from childhood to adolescence. The ceremony involves the piercing of the girl's ears and the giving of gifts.
Maasaifor women
Faith and Ancestors · Orpok
Orpok is a ceremony to honor the ancestors and to seek their blessings. The ceremony involves the sacrifice of an animal and the offering of prayers.
Maasai
What they eat
4 dishes, what they mean and when they appear.
Ugali
A stiff maize-meal porridge, kneaded in the pot until firm, cut into portions and eaten with the hand alongside vegetables, meat, or sour milk.
Kikuyu · Maasai
Nyama choma
Slow-grilled goat or beef over open coals, served in chunks on a wooden board with little more than salt: the anchor of Kenyan weekend gatherings.
Kikuyu · Maasai
Enkamuri
Enkamuri is a ceremonial dish made from roasted meat, often served at important rituals and ceremonies. It is a significant part of Maasai cultural heritage.
Maasai
Milk Tea
Milk Tea, or Ormurunya, is a traditional Maasai drink made with tea, milk, and sugar. It is a common beverage in Maasai culture.
Maasai
What they wear
2 pieces, what it says and who may wear it.
Shuka
The red (or red-and-blue plaid) cloth wrap that has become the single most recognisable garment associated with the Maasai, worn draped and knotted over one or both shoulders.
Maasai
Maasai beadwork
Elaborate, tightly worked collars, bracelets, and headpieces in vivid coloured beads, worn by Maasai women and marking age-set, marital status, and rites of passage through colour and form.
Maasai
