The Maasai are one of the most popular and storied African tribes due in part to their proximity to the African great lakes and the colorful customs and clothing. Their villages locations are often located nearing gaming reservations and parks and as a result, are often the first tribes seen by western visitors. Currently the Maasai population is approximately .2M with population growth ranging from 3 percent to 5 percent per year. The Maasai tribe itself inhabits the norther, central, and southern parts of Kenya. The modern day Maasai have adapted their customs and practices over the years, but many of them the standards of the developed world are considered antiquated. One particular right of passage is the circumcision of the young males as a right of passage. To become a warrior, they must go through this treatment without screaming as this is considered a sign of pain. In addition, this process takes roughly three to four months to heal. As a result, it is difficult for men to urinate as the pain is so excruciating. This along with other barbaric customs have been looked down upon from the rest of the world. Even the he Tanzanian and Kenyan governments have instituted programs to encourage the Maasai to abandon these customs. However, although some have changed the Maasai still practice many of the same age-old customs that have been practiced for centuries. Maasai are pastoralist and have resisted the urging of the Tanzanian and Kenyan governments to adopt a more sedentary lifestyle. As a nomadic tribe, the Maasai traditional hunt, fish, and raise cattle on their lands. They often travel to hunt with many of the Maasai warriors. Interesting, the Maasai tribe have be staunch advocates against slavery and human trafficking when other tribes embraced it. The Maasai would defend their territories from human traffickers violently and without mercy. As such many slave traders often avoided the Maasai due to their tactics and stance towards human rights.

From a cultural perspective the Maasai live alongside most wild animals and have an aversion to eating game and birds. Traditionally, the Maasai diet consisted of raw meat, raw milk, honey and raw blood from cattle. Here, the essentially dietary requirements are often not met with these foods. The needs for protein and essential amino acids are more than adequately satisfied. However, the supply of iron, niacin, vitamin C, vitamin A, thiamine and energy are never fully met by a purely milk diet. As result, the Maasai, have slowly transitioned to a grain to their diets. They also have now started to herd sheep, goats, and other prized cattle. In addition, soups and plant-based diets have also been introduced to the Maasai.

As it relates to shelter, the Maasai typically build temporary housing as they are nomadic tribe. As such, their houses were designed not with longevity in mind as they were constantly on the move due to their nomadic nature. Interestingly, the homes of the tribe are typically constructed by women. Here the women build rectangular shaped homes with timber poles as support. The Maasai women then arrange a combination of cow dung, human urine, ash, mud, sticks and grass to make the physical structure. The root is...

…in a row. Then after he completes this task, he eligible for the grand prize of circumcision. Once completed the warrior receives gift that include heads of cattle, a heavy spear, a herding staff, a shield and is now considered a man.

Next the warrior, must pass the test to become a high warrior. Here, the first trial consists of a trial of courage. In this ritual an animals horn is thrown on a fire and the warriors have to pick up a piece of it before it is completely consumed by the flames. In a stroke of irony, the person who actual passes the ritual is said to be hit with misfortune. However, if none of the males do it, then they are all set to be cursed. To obtain the elders blessing the men must bring eight bulls that have been raised by them as an offering.

How do you think Saitoti negotiated these structures? How did he fit in (or not fit in) to Maasai life and expectations?

Saitoti adhered to and deviated from many of the expectations surrounding Maasai life. For one, he adhered to the principles by returning home to become a Maasai warrior. He also stayed in the village and worked on the Serengeti where his tribe practiced its customs. He deviated from the culture however with his degrees in creative writing and natural resource management. Here it took what he had learned in the developed world and attempted to apply it to the Maasai. He also returned to the developed world to give lectures tours instead of remaining with the tribe for the remainder of…