The Maasai Mara culture

The Maasai Mara culture

 

Done by: Abilkasymova Aizhan

Anuarova Moldir

Plan

 

I. Introduction

II. 1. Maasai Mara culture  (video)

   1.2 Maasai Mara ethnic group

   1.3 Maasai Mara traditional culture and beliefs

2. Non verbal communication of  Maasai people

3. Stereotype about Maasai Mara  people

4. Facts about Maasai Mara  people

III. Conclusion 

 

 

Introduction 

 

Every country has its own  traditions and cultures. Of all the countries  in the world, African culture stands out.  Culture in Africa is rich and diverse  as it keeps changing from country to  country in the continent. Africa is one  individual continent within which many cultures  and traditions can be found. That's what  makes Africa so mesmerizing and attractive  to people around the world.

 

1. Maasai Mara culture

1.2 Maasai Mara ethnic group 

 

They are an ethnic group  of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and Northern Tanzania.  They are among the best known of African ethnic groups, due to their distinctive customs and dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa.  They speak a language called Maa and are also educated in the official languages of Tanzania... Swahili and English.

1.3. Maasai Mara traditional culture  and beliefs 

 

• The Maasai's distinctive color is red that has them always wearing something of that color. 
• Maasai men drape red blankets and carry long wooden poles. Women favor an excessive use of beaded jewelry.
• Traditionally Maasai do not hunt, eat fish or vegetables.  

Maasai culture centers around cattle that  play an important role. In fact the measure of a man's wealth is by the number of cattle and children.

Tribal ceremonies of the Maasai include

the warrior jumping dance.

Daily life of Maasai – Pastoralist farmers

 

The Maasai are pastoralist farmers, that means that the are farmers who look after animals. They don’t grow any crops.

Maasai Houses - Enkangs

 

The Maasai live in a collection of  huts called Encangs. They are made of wooden poles, cow dung and mud. There are no windows and it is only about 5ft high.

Maasai Dress

 

The Maasai men wear brightly colored blankets and the women wear lots of jewellery around their necks, wrists and ankles.

Daily Jobs - Men

 

God gave cattle to Maasai, which came to earth sliding down a long rope linking heaven and Earth. The Maasai received the noble gift of raising cattle. For many Maasai, the center of their world remains their cattle, which furnish food, clothing, and shelter. 

Daily Jobs - Women

 

During the day the women collect fire  wood and make baskets and jewellery. 

Diet

The Maasai drink goats and cows milk and this is mixed with cow blood (high in protein). This mixture of milk and blood is taken at weddings, at rites of passage and is given as a tonic to the sick, the elderly, and women who have just given birth.

Maasai warriors hunt lions

 

Lion hunt is a historical  practice that played an important role  in the Maasai culture.  The Maasai depend strictly on livestock (cow, sheep and goat) and do not eat game meat. Three products are used from the lion:

• mane
• tail 
• claws

2. Non verbal communication of  Maasai people 

 

Nonverbal communication is important to the study of Kenya's culture. 

Most classifications of non-verbal  communication occur in body (appearance, movement,  facial expression, eye-contact, smell, and  paralanguage); and those that the combine  with the setting (space, time, and silence). 

 

Paralanguage 

 

The "noise" people make  also carries meaning. The Maasai people  use a number of sounds that have  special significance, the most common one  being the "eh" sound, which the Maasai culture draw out and which can mean "yes", "I understand," or "continue."  In Kenya, the "iya" sound tells the other person that everything is okay.

3. Stereotype about Maasai people 

 

• Maasai is a powerful tribe of arrogant fierce savages. 

 

• Maasai is a curious attractive group that performs ancient war dances while dressed up in outlandish attire. 

 

• Maasai only eating meat and drinking blood but like many things this is a fallacy. 

 

• 'Beautiful beasts' and brave warriors: the longevity of a Maasai stereotype

4. The facts about Maasai  culture

Conclusion

 

The Maasai Mara culture is  different from our, Kazakh, culture. There  is difference between our perception of  events and perception of member’s of  Maasai Mara. There are special uses of verbal codes, especially paralanguage. My stereotypes of the Maasai people are:

• “They stubborn about modern changes or they don’t know about modern life.”

 

• For Maasai people, the LOVE is equal with just sleeping with their spouse. 

Thank you for your attention!!!