MAASAI

By Charlotte and Katie

The Maasai

The Maasai live in east Africa. They are known for being herders and

warriors.

What they live on. For the Maasai, cattle are what make the

good life, and milk and meat are the best foods.

They used to just rely on meat, but now they grow their own crops aswell.

Maasai society is organised into male age-groups whose members together pass through initiations to become warriors, and then elders. They have no chiefs, although each section has a Laibon, or spiritual leader, at its leader

Maasai religion Ngai - god The Maasai believe in one God, who they call Ngai.

Ngai is neither male nor female, but seems to have several different aspects. Ngai is the creator of everything. In the beginning, Ngai (which also means sky) was one with the earth, and owned all the cattle that lived on it. But one day the earth and sky separated, so that Ngai was no longer among men. The cattle, though, needed the material sustenance of grass from the earth, so to prevent them dying Ngai sent down the cattle to the Maasai by means of the aerial roots of the sacred wild fig tree, and told them to look after them.

Maasai traditions The tribe live in traditional huts in small settlements of 8-15

in each village. They believe a god called Ngai

entrusted the cattle to the maasai

people when the earth and the sky

split. Wealth is measured by the

number of cattle.

Children have a ritual of rainmaking

during the drought

The maasai unique hair style shows a symbol of their

Tradition and culture by wearing plaits it proves

Individuality.

Did you know…. That the maasai drink cows blood they believe it makes the body stronger and warmer