Why do Kenyans touch childrens heads?
Respectful blessings As each of his eight children entered the compound, they lowered their heads so that myself and all the other adults present could touch their heads and bless them. This was not about being a white person in Africa and therefore being afforded a degree of privilege.
What do the Maasai children do?
In school, Maasai children learn English and Swahili, but their native language, Maa, is spoken at home. Young boys are responsible for tending livestock as part of their daily chores. Since cattle are so important to the Maasai people, this job is highly honored.
What language do the Maasai speak?
Swahili
Most Maasai also speak Swahili, the lingua franca of East Africa.
How long do the Maasai live?
With a life expectancy of only 45 years, Maasai women live with many physical discomforts and live under a man and family that they did not personally choose. Denied the right to education, Maasai women do only what they know to do–follow the rules of tradition.
How do the Maasai make money?
Livestock such as cattle, goats and sheep are the primary source of income for the Maasai. Livestock serves as a social utility and plays an important role in the Maasai economy. Livestock are traded for other livestock, cash or livestock products such as milk and siege.
What happens to the body when a Maasai dies?
Similar to Ancient Tibetan and Mongolian traditions, the Maasai people leave the body out for scavengers. For the scavenger burial, they cover the body with ox blood or cattle fat and leave them in a bush for scavengers to eat. The deceased is considered a good person if they eat them on the first night.
Who are the Masai people?
The name Masai refers to a person who speaks the Maa language. In general, the Maa language is mostly spoken and rarely written because of their strong oral tradition. However, the Bible was translated into the Maa language, which uses the Latin alphabet, and there’s also a Maasai dictionary. 3. They’re Not Exclusive to Kenya
Where do the Maasai live?
The Maasai tribe dominate the arid and semi-arid plains of the Great Lakes region in East Africa, with the majority occupying the area between Northern Tanzania and Southern Kenya. That area also hosts the most popular national game reserves and parks: The Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and the Serengeti and Ngorongoro in Tanzania.
What do the Maasai do in their huts?
Within the hut, there is a fireplace for the mother to cook and it’s a place where the Maasai eat, sleep, socialize and store food and other possessions. They also keep small livestock within the huts to protect them from wildlife. The Maasai use the hides and skin of the slaughtered animals to sleep on.
Why do Maasai men have so many wives?
The number of cattle and children each Maasai owns is a measurement for wealth. So Maasai men can have as many wives as they want so they can get a lot of children. It’s not really depending on how many wives Maasai men want, but it’s more of how many wives he can afford and support.