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Adaptation to rapid economic and social change

Increasing encroachment on Maasai lands

Threatens their traditional way of life

Needs to address integration into the mainstream modern economies and political systems of Kenya and Tanzanian society

Fear they may lose their children to Western schooling

Modern education increasingly become a necessity

In order to remain competitive with their neighbors and survive

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Circumcision (for boys) and excision (for girls)

The most important event in a young Maasai’s life

Father's ultimate duty to ensure that his children undergo this rite

Family invites relatives and friends to witness the ceremonies

Which may be held in special villages called imanyat .

The imanyat dedicated to circumcision of boys are called nkang oo ntaritik (villages of little birds).

Circumcision itself involves great physical pain

Tests a youth's courage

If they flinch during the act, boys bring shame and dishonor to themselves and their family

The members of their age group ridicule them and they pay a fine of one head of cattle

If a boy shows great bravery

He receives gifts of cattle and sheep

Girls must endure an even longer and more painful ritual

Considered preparation for childbearing

Girls who become pregnant before excision are banished from the village and stigmatized throughout their lives

After passing this test of courage

Women say they are afraid of nothing

Guests celebrate the successful completion of these rites

By drinking great quantities of mead

A fermented beverage containing honey

And dancing

Boys are then ready to become warriors, and

Girls are then ready to bear a new generation of warriors

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The main purpose for these circumsitions so that people don't have children at a premature age. It also signifies their coming into adulthood and shows they are ready to be a warrior and take care of their future families.

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Traditional Maasai lifestyle centers around their cattle

Primary source of food

Believe god gave them his cattle to watch of over

Measure man’s wealth in terms of cattle and children

not money

Herd of 50 cattle is respectable

Traditional staple of a man’s diet

Which used to consist of meat, milk and blood

Herd size always been a way to distinguish the rich from the poor

Have long been the bond between many social and personal bonds

First boys initiation is Enkipaata

Pre-circumcision ceremony

Organized by the fathers of the new age set

Every 12-15 years a new age set is initiated together

Boys travel throughout region to announce now age-set

Travel about four months

Day before ceremony boys must sleep outside in the forest

During the ceremony

Boys dress in loose clothing

Dance nonstop throughout the day

Ceremony is the transition into a new age-set

After ceremony

Boys are ready to be circumcised

Ready to take charge of warrior hood

Every boy wants to be initiated as young as possible and before anyone else

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- Maasai people speak Maa

- A Nilo-Saharan language similar to Dinka, Nuer, Turkana, and Sanghai

- The reason why there would be an official language is so that all the villages of the tribe can speak to each other and if there is a major event going on people can spread the word more easily.

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- Population of Maasai in Kenya estimated 841,622

- Total population roughly over a million people

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Shrinking

Maasai population in both countries are difficult to find because of the remote locations of their different villages

Since the numbers are decreasing it shows that not as many people are passing down their tribal traditions to their children; therefore, not as many people participate in these tribes.

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- Located in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, Africa

- Since most of the Maasai tribes live in such rural areas the people have learned to grow their own crops and raise their own cattle. It is positive for the Maasai because they learn hard working skills and they don’t have to depend on other people to do things for them.