November 2015 - My Tribe The Maasi
Members of the Horndean & District U3A met for their regular monthly meeting on Friday 6th November 2015. They were entertained by the charismatic Bonifave Ole Mpario draped in his Maasi robes, telling about his beloved homeland and his Maasi tribe from SW Kenya.
There are 44 different tribes in Kenya of less than a million people. The Maasi originally migrated from South Sudan when they followed the path of the Nile, past Lake Victoria and finally settled in the open savannah grasslands which are imperative to their way of life.
They set up village enclaves for security but before they finally chose a site they consult their spiritual leader. A fire will be lit and he will study the smoke – if high, spirits have accepted the site. Every family has its own entrance and the enclave is shared with their animals to prevent them from being stolen or killed by the indigenous wildlife. Nowadays the tribe is semi-nomadic which enables their livestock to feed on fresh grasslands.
Livestock to the Maasi is a measurement of their wealth and they never enquire of each other how many cows or sheep they own. Their way of life is totally dependent upon their animals for their milk, meat and hides which are all traded. The cost of a dowry is 5 cows and 1 sheep!
They are polygamous which is helpful as the women of the tribe have to milk the cows twice a day. The women have songs they sing whilst milking which relaxes the animals. Skills are passed between mother and daughter and father and son and everyone has a specific job. Little children mind the calves and lambs. If they don’t work they are sent off to school (as was Boni). The women also make necklaces etc out of seeds and nowadays glass beads of which we saw a selection.
There is no need for police as the tribes are self-regulating. Punishment is by way of a fine by taking away a cow which is their most cherished and valuable possession. Their homes are built by the women of wood, grass and covered in cow dung. The women all help each other with the building, child birth and taking care of the children.
The most important ambition for a male is to make the decision to become a warrior. There is a rite of passage which they must go through. One of the first is circumcision. Also they braid their hair. They have to show bravery but have a carefree existence. They cannot marry but can have as many girl friends as they wish. It’s ceremonial to go lion hunting with the sounding of a horn before and again after a successful hunt; the face of lion must face to the east and pieces of tail are stuck on the horn. The transition from warrior to elder follows another ceremony starting with the shaving of head by his mother or auntie. Once an elder he can marry which is arranged for him; again with age old customs and ceremony.
Their Government says children must go to school and be educated. Tourism helps pay the fees. Boni told us a whole lot more than I can write here and many questions were put to him by the enthralled members.
Diane Stoner, Speaker Co-ordinator.