[41] Burial has in the past been reserved for great chiefs, since it is believed to be harmful to the soil. An out-of-court process is also practiced called amitu, 'to make peace', or arop, which involves a substantial apology. Traditionally, the Maasai diet consists mainly of raw meat, raw blood, and milk. (2005) tested various Sub-Saharan populations, including 26 Maasai males from Kenya, for paternal lineages. Nigerian Cement tycoon 'Dangote' is the richest black person in the world, with a fortune estimated at $11.9 billion (as of January, 2021). The number of Maasai in Kenya is estimated to be approximately 800,000, with about the same number living in Tanzania. Maasai respect the elements of nature, particularly thunder, lightning and rain, as both gifts and punishments on the tribe. The cow dung ensures that the roof is waterproof. Genetic genealogy, a tool that uses the genes of modern populations to trace their ethnic and geographic origins, has also helped clarify the possible background of the modern Maasai. The removal of deciduous canine tooth buds in early childhood is a practice that has been documented in the Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania. The Maasai have a population of about 1 million people. Recent advances in genetic analyses have helped shed some light on the ethnogenesis of the Maasai people. Blue, black, striped, and checkered cloth are also worn, as are multicolored African designs. [112], Ethnic group inhabiting Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, Elizabeth T Wood, Daryn A Stover, Christopher Ehret, "Maasai"_Tepilit Ole Saitoti 1980 Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated, New York, Nelson, Jimmy. Heck – if you asked me “Where do the Maasai live” I would’ve failed. The Maasai People: An Introduction. Maasai are tribal people who live on the border of Kenya and Tanzania in Africa. "Kitala", a kind of divorce or refuge, is possible in the house of a wife's father, usually for gross mistreatment of the wife. The Maasai are traditionally polygynous; this is thought to be a long-standing and practical adaptation to high infant and warrior mortality rates. The Maasai are Kenya’s most true ethnic tribe. The Maasai pray to Engai as a spiritual force that governs the universe. [86][87], Traditionally, the Maasai diet consisted of raw meat, raw milk, honey and raw blood from cattle. Mohamed Amin, Duncan Willetts, John Eames. [77], Both singing and dancing sometimes occur around manyattas, and involve flirting. [109] The young warriors then allow their hair to grow, and spend a great deal of time styling the hair. Human Organization. Livestock such as cattle, goats and sheep are the … [84][85] Amongst Maasai males, circumcision is practiced as a ritual of transition from boyhood to manhood. Broken Spears - a Maasai Journey. [108], Two days before boys are circumcised, their heads are shaved. Due to an increase in Maasai population, loss of cattle populations to disease, and lack of available rangelands because of new park boundaries and the incursion of settlements and farms by other tribes (this is also the chief reason for the decline in wildlife-habitat loss, with the second being poaching), the Maasai were forced to develop new ways of sustaining themselves. Kenya Mafia jig-s", "Lion Killing in the Amboseli-Tsavo Ecosystem, 2001–2006, and its Implications for Kenya's Lion Population", "Maasai Ritual of Female Circumcision: Genital Cutting Practiced throughout Africa and Middle East", "In-depth: Razor's Edge - The Controversy of Female Genital Mutilation", "Legislating Change? … This ritual is typically performed by the elders, who use a sharpened knife and makeshift cattle hide bandages for the procedure. Camerapix Publishers International. Women are also circumcised (as described above). For Maasai living a traditional life, the end of life is virtually without ceremony, and the dead are left out for scavengers. Cattle are the traditional partners of the Maasai people of East Africa. Livestock such as cattle, goats and sheep are the primary source of income for the Maasai. The Maa word for circumcision, "emorata," is used for both female and male genital mutilation. Note that the Maasai cattle are of the Zebu variety. The Maasai were the dominating tribe at beginning of 20th century. Both men and women wear wooden bracelets. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 1980. page 171. The Maasai culture is predominantly patriarchal, with a council of elders overseeing the daily running of the village and administering matters on the basis of an oral body of law. He attributed that to their diet consisting of (in order of volume) raw milk, raw blood, raw meat and some vegetables and fruits, although in many villages they do not eat any fruit or vegetables at all. 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