Masai, Kenya - Tanzania

The Maasai people of East Africa live in the savanna between southern Kenia and nothern Tanzania. The tribe has some 900 000. They differ by a special way of life, which has absolutely not changed over the past century. A tribal structure is based on the so-called age-groups. The responsibilities of tribe members depend on the age of the group they belong to.

From boyhood to adulthood, young Maasai boys begin to learn the responsibilities of being a man or helder and a warrior. The role of a warrior is to protect their animals from human and animal predators, to provide security to their families. So they herd cattle, later, through rituals and ceremonies Maasai boys are guided on how to become a warrior. Women are responsible for making the houses as well as supplying water, collecting firewood, milking cattle and cooking for the family. The Maasai is one of the few tribes in which polygamy is supported.

Though they traditionally dressed in animal skins, today, typical Maasai dress consists of red clothes. Women wear silver jewelry. The savannas, where the Maasai people live, are very extensive and some tribal groups live close to cities. Thus, they have a close contact with the "white people". They often make colourful dance performances in hotels. Some tourists prefer to make personal visits to the villages of the nomadic tribe. Those representatives of the tribe who live in complete isolation in remote areas of the savanna have never seen people of a different skin colour. Next - Kalam