Exploring the Vibrant Culture of the Maasai Tribe in Africa

Africa has been colonized and pillaged for over 300 years, but it is a rich and diverse place. It is the world's second-largest continent and the only one that extends across both the northern and southern hemispheres. Africa covers approximately 11.7 million square miles (30.37 million square kilometers). This means that the US is 32.4% the size of Africa, while the UK is only 0.8% the size. Africa has over 50 independent countries and accounts for approximately 16% of the global population. This translates to more than 1.2 billion people. While it is easy to homogenize and refer to 'African people', the truth is that there are over 3,000 diverse African tribes within these 54 distinct and unique countries!
Perhaps South Africa's constitution best reflects this diversity, as all 11 official languages are legally recognized.
The Maasai Tribe of Kenya and Tanzania has a population of +/- 840 000.
Savannahs, lions, safari vehicles, and a red-robed Maasai stand elegantly and slender against the infinite horizon... The red-clad Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania represent Africa's Great Plains and Savannahs. They are well-known warriors and pastoralists who have roamed East Africa's wilderness for centuries.
Maasinta, the first Maasai, received cattle as a gift from Ngai, the sky god, who brought them down to earth on a leather thong. Since then, cattle have been regarded as sacred, with their value rivaled only by the value of their offspring; indeed, a large herd and a large family are the hallmarks of a truly successful Maasai. The savannah land that now includes the famous parks of Ngorongoro, Amboseli, Serengeti, Masai Mara, and Tsavo was once the nomadic range of the Maasai people.
Among the most well-known Maasai traditions are the jumping dance, the wearing of colorful shuka, spitting, and the drinking of blood. The Adamu is a jumping dance performed as part of the initiation ceremony when young adults become men. Accompanied by song, pairs of men compete to see who can jump the highest. The ritual is performed to demonstrate prowess and fitness, and it is part of the celebration when the boys are eligible bachelors. He who jumps the highest gets the best bride.
The Maasai wear shuka, a brightly colored cloth. Red is considered a sacred color that represents blood and is the primary color for all shuka. In addition to these benefits, it shields the Maasai from wild animals. Orange stands for hospitality, warmth, and friendship, while blue represents the sky, which provides rain for the cattle. Green is for nourishment and production, while yellow is for fertility and growth. These vibrant African clothes are what distinguishes the Maasai in East Africa.
That's right, the traditional Maasai people are hematophagous, which means they consume blood for nutrition. It's curious because, while they drink cow's blood, which is often mixed with milk, they're opposed to eating wild animals, and beef is only consumed on special occasions. The Maasai revere their cattle, so letting blood does not cause long-term harm to their bovine companions.
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