Maasai

The Maasai are a Nilotic ethnic group living primarily in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, along the plains of the East African Rift. They have historically been semi-nomadic pastoralists, with cattle central to wealth, social status, and exchange. Population estimates vary, ranging from several hundred thousand to around two million people.

Language and social structure: The Maasai speak Maa, a Nilotic language with multiple dialects. Social life is organized around age-sets and clans. Initiation and rites of passage are important, including male circumcision and the Eunoto ceremony that marks progression into adulthood. Women play central roles in household management, cattle care, and beadwork.

Culture, dress, and art: Maasai identity is widely recognized through distinctive dress and ornament. Men often wear red shukas and elaborate beadwork, while women display bright, intricately beaded necklaces and belts. Beadwork communicates status and life events, and cattle are linked to marriage payments and social networks. Housing typically consists of manyattas, circular or oval homesteads built with sticks and dung.

Economy and contemporary issues: While livestock remains the main source of wealth, some Maasai engage in farming, trade, tourism, and formal employment. In recent decades, they have faced land-rights pressures, relocations due to conservation efforts, drought, and the challenges of balancing tradition with modernization. Education and health services are increasingly integrated with national systems, influencing changes in traditional practices.