NidalM Photography / Blog / Travelography / Dancing With the Masai

Dancing With the Masai

Posted by NidalM on Sep 6th, 2009 | 24 comments

Taking a step back from all those animals to a more cultural side of Kenya. Yes, I can almost feel the anthropological ears in the crowd perk up. Kenya doesn’t have a very strong national identity. Yes, all the people are part of the same country, striving for similar goals. But the strongest ties in the country are tribal. They say Kenya has 42 independent tribes. The 42nd being the Masai. Kenya’s Masai Mara, which is most densely populated animal reserve in the world, was named after the Masai who call the land home. On our visit to the Mara, we stopped by one of the local Masai villages for a visit!

Originally from Northern Africa, the Masai traveled south in search of grazing grounds for their cows and are now spread throughout Eastern Africa, predominantly in Kenya. They have a very strong connection to the wildlife of the Savannah and a set of cultural traditions that leave outsiders like us completely amazed.

The first, and probably the most well known tradition is that the Masai believe that all cows in the world belong to them. That right. All of them. Angus, Kobe, you name it. In the past the Masai would raid villages of other tribes to annex their cows. In modern times, this practice has stopped of course, mostly because annexing other countries requires the use of aircraft carriers. Masai never made it past spears. (Note: New Zealand’s bovine are still threatened).

Another oddity is the gender roles in their society. Men tend to be warriors, spending time outside the village and taking care of the cattle. Until the age of 26, they will not live inside the village (or marry!) until they’ve completed the rites of passage, which, before conservation laws, involved hunting lions. They’re diet during this time consists solely of meat and a special drink they make by mixing milk with cow blood.

The women on the other hand are the homemakers. Literally. They build the houses, furnish them, cook and take care of the kids. They will select a warrior to ‘marry’ and invite him to come stay with them. A man does not own his own house. Also, polygamy is common, with several women sometimes picking the more popular warrior choices.

Speaking of villages, Masai habitations are usually simple affairs. Huts surrounded by a fence to keep animals out. Despite this, a stray lion or hyena will occasionally make it in at night.

When they’re not being totally bad-ass and stabbing lions with spears, Masai warriors will be dancing. Yes, you heard me. Warriors. Dancing. This particular dance is supposed to give the warriors courage before a hunt.

And when they’re not killing lions or mustering up courage to kill lions, they’re trying to get laid. This dance involves the warriors jumping in place in a competition to jump the highest. The higher you jump, the more women you impress. Beats having to get a Wall St job and a nice car.

Can’t let them have ALL the women. I joined the warriors to hook up with some nubile nubians (Ok so they’re not Nubians, but it sounds so right!)

The Masai use a wide range of tools, derived directly from the environment around them. This antelope horn is used as an ummm… horn. omg I just realized why a horn (e.g. a car horn) got its name from!!

The women don’t let the guys have all the fun. They have their own songs and dances too. This one welcomes visitors to the village.

And right after the dance, they’ll try to sell you stuff. Seems like a very tourist inspired addition to the welcome ritual. “Welcome to our town, want a bone necklace? I take dollars”. Haggling is a requirement with the Masai, you are expected to do so and sometimes the wont sell you things if you agree right away to what they ask.

The jewelry itself is very well done. Made of beads and animal bone, it is the stuff that the warriors themselves will wear. Also, its unisex, so I won’t look totally gay in it if I wore it.

Walking away from the village, a Masai warrior would run up to me and exclaim “You jump very high you know!”.

Laughing, I replied “Really, do I get any girls then?”.

“Of Course!” he responded, “at least ten!”.

Our eyes met. He looked serious.
“So…. uhhh.. where are they? [Wow I should've thought that through]“.
He gave me a big grin, “Just take your photo of you jumping home, you’ll get your girls! That’s what we Masai believe”

Still laughing, I grabbed the guys shoulder, gave him a serious face and said “Dude, if I get 10 girls by showing this picture, I’ll send you all the cows in my country”

We shook on it.

I have now posted these photos online for your review. So tell me, should I send out those cows or will the Masai have to invest in aircraft carriers?

Tags: culture, kenya, masai, masai mara, tribes

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Aeish

Haha you should have sent the cows by now Nidal
Aeish

Haha you should have sent the cows by now Nidal
http://precognitive.wordpress.com/ Qusay

That looked like a soul shake down party, and you just proved that Pakistani men can jump! unless of course the pic was manipulated or taken from an angle to show that you were jumping higher that you actually were… good luck with all the women
http://precognitive.wordpress.com/ Qusay

That looked like a soul shake down party, and you just proved that Pakistani men can jump! unless of course the pic was manipulated or taken from an angle to show that you were jumping higher that you actually were… good luck with all the women
qurrat

HAHAHAHAH at the last part.

Maybe the Masai would have to invest in aircraft carriers ;P
qurrat

HAHAHAHAH at the last part.

Maybe the Masai would have to invest in aircraft carriers ;P
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I'm in COMPLETE denial ;P
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I'm in COMPLETE denial ;P
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

lol thats cynicism no manipulations or angle tricks. Maybe just timing. They warriors were obviously jumping much higher than me
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

lol thats cynicism no manipulations or angle tricks. Maybe just timing. They warriors were obviously jumping much higher than me
http://precognitive.wordpress.com/ Qusay

Plus if you can jump very high, you do get a lot of women… NBA ring a bell?
http://precognitive.wordpress.com/ Qusay

Plus if you can jump very high, you do get a lot of women… NBA ring a bell?
Chiara

I agree with Qusay. Some combination of Masai and NBA and you are a universal babe magnet (more than now even! LOL ).

Now the red sun dress with the crossover decollete, that makes for a real jumper! LOL
Chiara

I agree with Qusay. Some combination of Masai and NBA and you are a universal babe magnet (more than now even! LOL ).

Now the red sun dress with the crossover decollete, that makes for a real jumper! LOL
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

Wow, no wonder its all african-americans in the NBA.. they've practiced this stuff for generations!
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

Wow, no wonder its all african-americans in the NBA.. they've practiced this stuff for generations!
http://sophiaali.blogspot.com/ Sophia Ali

I've never envied anyone…but, you…I do…how do you manage to come up with such amazing shots…Loved the one in the air…and didn't u tweet about this post? How come I missed it?
http://sophiaali.blogspot.com/ Sophia Ali

I've never envied anyone…but, you…I do…how do you manage to come up with such amazing shots…Loved the one in the air…and didn't u tweet about this post? How come I missed it?
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

Thanks Sophia

I did tweet it, but I think it was really late at night
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

Thanks Sophia

I did tweet it, but I think it was really late at night
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