The Maasai People: Coming of Age

The Maasai people, who live in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, are a Nilotic ethnic group of semi-nomadic people. It is said that their lifestyle should be embraced due to the fact that the are one of the only tribes who have stuck to the old-age traditions almost fully. In their culture there are multiple ceremonies that both boys and girls have to go through in-order to be looked at as true adults. For the girls the only two that they experience are Emuratta (circumcision), and Enkiama (marriage). Circumcision for girls is becoming less popular, especially with the ides of the 21st-century being prominent all over. The rest of their status is based off of who the man is that they marry and how far he is into his initiations. For the boys it is a little more detailed. Like the girls they two go through Emuratta shortly after puberty. Along with the circumcision, Enkipatta is one of the first rituals that is performed usually by the father. This is when boys aged from 14-16 go on a journey for four months across their land, and are later joined by elders who help them to realize the man who they want to become and help them to mature. About 30-40 houses are built for the initiating boys, for them to live in with their future family. The Emuratta ceremony is not just that, it also requires the boys to herd cattle for seven consecutive days. Then to stand in the cold and after bath themselves in a cold shower. These things are supposed make them more manly and warrior like. There are several other steps in becoming a senior warrior, which is the highest honor. This includes the shaving of the head and many other intriguing events. My culture in America is very different from the Maasai's but one similarity is that boys usually get circumcised as babies, but otherwise the gap is quite large but truly inspiring.  This culture is full of loyalty and is truly an inspiring little look at how the other half of the world lives!

Enkipaata:

 

 

 

MLA citation:

 

"Maasai Culture | Ceremonies and Rituals." Maasai Culture | Ceremonies and Rituals. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Sept. 2014. http://www.maasai-association.org/ceremonies.html