People of the Masai
The elegant people of Masai live in East Africa on the plains of Kenya and Tanzania. The Masai are sleek and beautiful people who thrive upon protecting "their" cattle. The Masai are sensitive to their own traditions and rituals passed on over 300 years ago. The Masai's strong presence on culture and traditions, protecting herds, and maintaining their identity with increasing pressures from colonial government rule are obstacles they have faced and will overcome today and many years to come.The Masai live in countries that flourish with western world tourists and whose leaders promote the life-style of the western world. However, the Masai still manage to maintain their unique way of life. The Masai embed traditions of protecting cattle and believe all cattle belongs to them, which allows vast herds to thrive am
The people of the Masai are beautiful inside and out and their views and culture can be observed and help assist people and communities in the western world today with modern issues. The traditions they perform, such as only eating oxen meat at a time when after child birth when a mother needs strength and when a person is recovering from illness, are held very sacred to the Masai. The Masai are not hunters, meat is not in their diet and only eat meat on rare occasions, and they do not farm. The Masai act as a "gate keeper" for all herds around them. Certain laws the government placed on the Masai such as reducing the time a young man is a warrior, restricting lion hunting, or no manyatta building have ironically had little or no affect on the Masai. The Masai have as many kids as possible to raise their population and spread their unique way of life. "The Masai feel like the 'chosen' people and are stubborn to maintain their tribal identity" ( Haviland 2002-2003:78). The Masai's ceremonies and lessons keep the culture alive for the young whom pass on to their young. "The Masai protect their cattle and believe it is sacrilege to break the ground in which they graze to grow food, get water, or even to bury dead" (Haviland 2002-2003:78-79)The Masai's continued respect for these animals allows herds to grow and remain free from extinction. The constant pressure of the colonial government on the Masai people to change their traditional way of life is a constant debate, yet the Masai stay true to themselves. The Masai have remained the tribe to stay together the longest in East Africa. The Masai tend to worship cattle, protecting the cattle and seeing all cattle as their own. The Masai's strong traditions, their respect to herds, and maintaining their identity have been the key to staying true to themselves and setting aside pressures to become urbanized. These key factors help the vast existence of herds on their lands, such as the beautiful Serengeti Plain.
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