Masai

The Maasai, also spelled Masai, are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are traditionally semi-nomadic pastoralists whose herds of cattle and goats form central to their economy and social life. They are known for distinctive red shukas, beadwork, and ceremonial dress, and for their emphasis on cattle as a measure of wealth and status. The Maasai speak Maasai (Maa), a Southern Nilotic language related to other Maa languages.

Maasai social organization is organized around age-sets and clans. Boys pass through initiation rites, including the moran or warrior phase, and later take on a senior role in the community. The culture features elaborate beadwork, songs, dances, and rites of passage that mark transitions from childhood to adulthood and leadership roles within the group.

In modern times, Maasai communities are concentrated in the Rift Valley and Great Lakes regions, with significant populations around the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania. Many Maasai remain pastoralists, but others have adopted agriculture, tourism, and wage labor. Land pressure, conservation policies, and development projects have influenced traditional practices, sometimes leading to tensions over land rights and access to grazing. Efforts to preserve Maasai culture often emphasize education, wildlife coexistence, and community governance.