Economic status
The maasai people´s economical standing is all built around their cattle. They are rarely killed, but
instead are accumulated as a sign of wealth, used for trading with their neighbors, sold to settle
debts or pay for dowry. Since Tourism was introduced and land curved, denying them fields to graze, they´ve been trying to participate in this industry by selling hand crafts though at throw away prices to middle men who mostly take advantage of the poverty and desperate situation to exploit them.
Their traditional grazing lands span from central Kenya into central Tanzania.
Young men are responsible for tending to the herds and often live in small camps, moving frequently in the constant search for
water and good grazing lands. Though Maasai are thought to be notorious cattle rustlers, it is not based on blood shed and is a way of taking back what is originally their life´s responsibility. At specific times
young Maasai warriors would set off in groups with the express purpose of
acquiring cattle, what others would term as illigal. Maasai often travel into towns and cities to
purchase goods and supplies and to sell their cattle at regional markets.
Political status
They had councils of elders who were looked upon as leaders to negotiate in times of conflict and disputes within and between the community and our neighbors.
Maasai community politics are embedded in age-grade systems which
separate young men and prepubescent girls from the elder men and their
wives and children.
When a young woman reaches puberty she is usually
married immediately to an older man. Until this time, however, she may
live and have sex with the youthful warriors. Often women maintain close
ties, both social and sexual, with their former boyfriends, even after
they are married. In order for men to marry they must first acquire
wealth, a process that takes time. Women, on the other hand, are married
at the onset of puberty to prevent children being born out of wedlock, though this practice is fast changing as many activists and human rights
organizations continue to advocate for schooling of the girls and the
banning of early marriages..
All children, whether legitimate are not, are recognized as the property
of the woman's husband and his family.
In times of conflict and drought the elders would be the ones to make the decisions. This they did with the full approval or in consultation with the divine(laibon) /spiritual leader. This gave it authenticity.They Never had dictators or selfish leaders running the community affairs single handedly as is the case with most of the governments including the NGO´s.
The maasai people´s economical standing is all built around their cattle. They are rarely killed, but
instead are accumulated as a sign of wealth, used for trading with their neighbors, sold to settle
debts or pay for dowry. Since Tourism was introduced and land curved, denying them fields to graze, they´ve been trying to participate in this industry by selling hand crafts though at throw away prices to middle men who mostly take advantage of the poverty and desperate situation to exploit them.
Their traditional grazing lands span from central Kenya into central Tanzania.
Young men are responsible for tending to the herds and often live in small camps, moving frequently in the constant search for
water and good grazing lands. Though Maasai are thought to be notorious cattle rustlers, it is not based on blood shed and is a way of taking back what is originally their life´s responsibility. At specific times
young Maasai warriors would set off in groups with the express purpose of
acquiring cattle, what others would term as illigal. Maasai often travel into towns and cities to
purchase goods and supplies and to sell their cattle at regional markets.
Political status
They had councils of elders who were looked upon as leaders to negotiate in times of conflict and disputes within and between the community and our neighbors.
Maasai community politics are embedded in age-grade systems which
separate young men and prepubescent girls from the elder men and their
wives and children.
When a young woman reaches puberty she is usually
married immediately to an older man. Until this time, however, she may
live and have sex with the youthful warriors. Often women maintain close
ties, both social and sexual, with their former boyfriends, even after
they are married. In order for men to marry they must first acquire
wealth, a process that takes time. Women, on the other hand, are married
at the onset of puberty to prevent children being born out of wedlock, though this practice is fast changing as many activists and human rights
organizations continue to advocate for schooling of the girls and the
banning of early marriages..
All children, whether legitimate are not, are recognized as the property
of the woman's husband and his family.
In times of conflict and drought the elders would be the ones to make the decisions. This they did with the full approval or in consultation with the divine(laibon) /spiritual leader. This gave it authenticity.They Never had dictators or selfish leaders running the community affairs single handedly as is the case with most of the governments including the NGO´s.