Strange customs of Aboriginal Massai

Massai Aboriginal women, Kenya are not free to marry, but most are arranged. Meanwhile, men with many cattle will marry many wives.

Strange life of Massai Aboriginal people

Massai people live in large grasslands, around the Great Rift valley in Kenya. This land is very fertile and the climate is mild, plants grow, so animals also come to live to create a paradise of the wild world.

People live together in crowded villages. They have a very special, circular-shaped way of building houses and turning their backs to avoid evil animals. The houses are built very simple, small, often with clay or buffalo manure to build on the branches to form a frame. They argue that cow dung will repel mosquitoes and snakes.

Massai Aboriginal men all have to perform mature rites.(Photo: Nguyen Tien Dat)

Massai people raise cattle in the center of the village . Each village consists of about 8 families gathered together, there is a barrier outside to prevent animal species. They do not hunt animals, mainly beef and lamb meat.

Aboriginal Massai have the custom of drinking fresh blood when killing animals. They believe that fresh blood is the most nutritious thing, so those who drink the most fresh blood are the bravest.

They believe in animism so they respect and worship animals that live next door. Which village has a lot of cattle proves that it is protected by the gods. People abstain from counting the number of cattle in the herd because they believe that if they do that the family will not be lucky.

In order to protect families and other types of animals from the attacks of outside mammals, Massai men often carry weapons with them, including spears or daggers. What is special when meeting men, you all see the lack of an incisor .

When it comes to adulthood, the men are gathered on the large land and the patriarch will pick up the teeth for each person. This is considered a ritual of maturity . At this time, the man has the right to decide his life. If people have not extracted teeth and pierced their ears, they are not yet considered men and girls will not keep an eye on them.

Masai Aboriginal women all shaved their heads.(Photo: Nguyen Tien Dat.)

Most Masai women shave their heads and wear a variety of color jewelry. Since the age of 9, they have been pierced ears. Looking at jewelry on people can guess the age and rank of the woman in the family. The marriage age of girls is usually between 13 and 16.

Massai people still maintain polygamy . A man can take a lot of wives, as long as he has a lot of cattle. Cattle are considered to be marriage ceremonies and Massai men " buy wives " by giving the father of a cow, sheep, or goat girl according to the quantity. The girl's father will decide to accept which man depends on the offering he brings.

Their marriage ceremony is organized as a festival . All villagers were invited by the bride and groom to the wedding. The bride will be dressed in colorful costumes and sophisticated jewelry.

Massai people know how to travel, they sell traditional items such as jewelry, clothes . (Photo: Nguyen Tien Dat.)

Before going home, the bride is often given a fresh grass symbol by the elders in front of her chest to symbolize the freshness and happiness. During the wedding, the father will spit on the daughter's head instead of a blessing. And only when the ritual is done , is the girl allowed to go to her husband's house.