Meeting the Maasai

Today, some Maasai visited our Grade 2 classroom. Connecting cultures as we learn about identity. An incredible learning experience for the students who were sooooooo engaged (as was I!).

The tallest one, Ibrahim, explained to the students many aspects of the Maasai culture. Some the students had heard before, some they had not! Completely fascinating and I had to pinch myself a couple of times as half of what he was saying just did not sound REAL! But it was...

Here's what I have learned about the Maasai so far:

• Maasai are traditionally nomadic and move to places that are good for their cattle. Cattle are their main source of income and livelihood - they sell cows, they milk cows, they eat cows.
• Maasai make their temporary homes from clay and cow dung.
• They have only 3 'weapons' - a shield, a spear, and a knife (a big one, think machete). He had his knife with him in a pouch hanging from his waist, but declined one student's request to take it out.
• They brush their teeth with parts of a tree.
• Their bottom two front teeth are removed. This is in case they suffer from lock-jaw - they can still be fed medicine and water.
• The Maasai do not hunt or eat wild animals. They will only kill wild animals to protect themselves or their cattle. Ibrahim explained (in detail, very matter of factly) how he killed a lion - he hit it on the head with his shield to stun it and then threw his spear.
• I read somewhere that part of the initiation ceremony for a boy to become a man (warrior) is for the boy to be sent out into the wild to survive by himself (against the predators etc).
• If they need to slaughter cattle (for food) they will sometimes call a local Muslim to do it (I think that's what he said).
• The Maasai drink cow blood when they are sick as they believe it will make them well faster.

The Maasai and Me