Much of the early history of the Maasai people of Kenya, Africa is obscure due to their nomadic lifestyle and lack of written accounts. Differing versions of their history exist because of oral methods from conflicting points of view used by various sub-tribes within the massive unstructured society. Several historians believe that they originated as an ethnic group for approximately 3000 years. However, their history that we can ascertain from written record begins from the early nineteenth century when foreign settlers invaded their land. Missionaries also provide written accounts of their history as they came into the land to evangelize.
Most historians agree that these people migrated from the Nile between the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries, invading, conquering, and settling into the Great Rift Valley. While killing most of the inhabitants of this massive area, others willingly embraced and joined the pillagers rather than face death. As they expanded into the region, they travelled between Kenya and Tanzania as the seasons and weather patterns dictated in order to maintain the feeding of their cattle.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, they lost many of their cattle from an epidemic of deadly diseases. A severe drought plagued most of the land that they occupied over an extended period. Combined, they lost more than half of their cattle and population. In these weakened conditions, the people became less resistant as the British and Kenyan governments took away more than two thirds of their land to create ranches for settlers, wildlife reserves, and national parks.
Of these national parks, perhaps the most significant is the Serengeti National Park, the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world. With nearly 13,000 square kilometers, it has a population of more than two million wildebeest, half a million gazelle, and a quarter of a million zebra. Serengeti is a word in the Maasai language that means "extended place." A complex yet undisturbed ecosystem: it is unmatched and unlike any other place on earth.
This society is perhaps the most known tribe associated with Africa, as people from other continents envision naked dancing warriors with tribal masks. These masks, which represent the way the natives express themselves artistically, are highly sought after as many consider them amongst the finest creations in the art world. One may find many original and replicas of these masks in museums and art galleries throughout the world. They construct these masks from a variety of materials including leather, metal, fabric, and various types of wood.
These natives use these masks in their traditional ceremonies including celebrations, initiations, crop harvests, and war preparations. They believe that their ancestors manifest themselves in the being of the individual who is wearing the mask. The masks also represent the spirits of mythological beings, animal spirits, and other beings that they deem to have power over humanity.
During the ceremony, the tribal member enters a deep trance whereby he communicates with one of these spirits. The mask wearer usually delivers a message from the spirit in grunts, broken sentences, or partial phrases. An elder or wise man from the tribe usually serves as an interpreter, delivering an accurate translation of the message. However, modernism has caught up to these people and they no longer practice many of the tribal ceremonies.
While missionaries converted many of these people to Christianity beginning in the early twentieth century, those converted still held on to their traditions and participated in their tribal ceremonies. In fact, the people greatly rely upon the practice of their ceremonies for entertaining tourists as a way to support themselves. This includes making and marketing tribal masks and other ceremonial hand-made beaded jewelry and trinkets to the tourists. For examples of Maasai carvings and masks visit http://www.karvingsfromkenya.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment