...a largely nomadic tribe moving with
their herds of cattle in a constant circle from Kenya into Tanzania
and back again. As long as the grazing for the cattle is plentiful
they remain in location, building temporary huts within a large
enclosed circle for their own and their animals' protection.
Some years ago, the then President of
Kenya, Jomo Kenyata, (or was it his successor, Daniel Arab Moi )
invited several family elders to Nairobi, the Nation's Capital, in an
effort to convince them to abandon their nomadic life, and to settle
down in one area in order to farm the land. The Elders thanked him
profusely for his hospitality, returned to their temporary homesteads
and, as a token of their respect and gratitude, they sent him, as a
gift, 1000 heads of cattle, thereby demonstrating their wealth. A clear indication of their satisfaction with their current mode of life.
Nothing further was said about the
Maasai's settling down to become farmers.
Their staple food consisted of a
mixture of cow's blood and milk.
On my question as to the location of
their grave yards, my guide, a perfect English speaking Maasai
explained to me that in the event of the death of a family member, a
calf or cow is slaughtered and on this rare occasion, meat is
consumed. The body of the diseased is taken away from the enclosure onto the veldt,
where the animals intestines are placed next to the body and set
afire.
Vultures can smell this burning meat
from a distance of many kilometers and come for the feast.
In a short while all has disappeared.
Having visited several of their family
enclosures one is left with the impression of an athletic, soft
spoken, friendly people who live in the past, when compared to their brethren in Nairobi or similar places.
clothed in Toga like predominantely red coloured cloth,
this small group is selling double sided spears
as well as necklaces made of porcupine quills and colourful beeds.
They are, by and large, an attractive people
who seem to be stuck in the past
until...
...you notice a man in typical stance, wearing a modern, expensive watch on his right wrist.
...and here we have a beautifully decorated cell phone holder.
Reporting for "National Geographic" Timothy Baird,
a Geography researcher asks:
Has the cell phone changed the Maasai for better or for worse ?
In the March 2016 edition he examines the impact
this ultra modern "tool" might have on the semi nomadic life
of the people living "off the grid".
Phones, says Geography Professor Baird,
are a profound new tool for them.
There now is instant connectivity where none has existed before.
There now is access to weather reports, prices for animals
and the possibility of young men flirting with young women,
in a society where arranged marriages of young women to older men is still the tradition.
Cell Phones, so Baird, can store money, which has introduced Maasai to mobile banking.
Discussion groups, arranged by Professor Baird, amongst groups of Maasai revealed that Maasai men preferred to use the photographic feature on their phones to photograph ( yes you guessed right )
women and cows.
(to place these two preferred photographic subjects into proper perspective, it must be pointed out that cows are indeed a most important aspect of a Maasai's life. They determine the individual's and his family's wealth and standing within the community.
Is this modern tool diluting their historically rustic culture ?
The Maasai themselves see this development positively.
They see the cell phone as impowering rather than intrusive.
Cell phone picture taken from National Geographic Magazine
all other pictures taken by "Bertspix"
