Maasai Community - Research Paper Example

 Maasai Community The term communication in the simplest and most basic sense refers to the aspect of passing, receiving and sharing information between one source to the next person who is called the recipient. The fact that a person gives or disseminates information to the next person for the purpose of analyzing and internalizing such information. At the very minimum, there is the exchange of messages, thoughts, speech, behavior or information. This shows that a person or owner of the ideals and thoughts must be willing and capable of sharing such things with the rest of the people or society who would is conventionally known as recipient. The term culture in its part refers to beliefs, traditions, customs, arts and other aspects of human behavior that characterize livelihood and lifestyle (Roth & Fratkin, 2005). It also refers to a pattern of dominant behaviors, attitudes and lifestyles which are learnt and passed from one generation to the next. For the purpose of this essay and exposition, I will focus on the cultural principles and tenets of the Maasai culture which is a unique and exquisite culture practiced in Kenya and Africa. Brief history of culture The historical disposition and aspect or culture of the Maasai has been shared, learnt and preserved over the period of time. They were particularly resistant to any incursion or penetration by the colonial imperialists who wanted to colonialize them and introduce foreign cultures and behaviors in them. This was the reason as to why the traditions and customs of the Maasai have transcended time and remained relevant and unique to them. For instance, their traditional knowledge has mostly and often been narrated or shared in form of stories, songs, folktales, chants and poetry. All these literature and traditions have been passed from one generation to the next by use of mouth. It is important to note and mention that the Maasai culture and community is laced and is rich in traditional medicine, gathering and collecting of wild honey and wild food, the practice of livestock management amongst other practices. The geographical landscape and ecological disposition of the Maasai has remained unique and has been preserved as such. A practical case and instance refers to the pastoral lifestyle or specialization where people live in one place with their livestock and then move later on if the climatic conditions change. If rainfall reduces and there is drought, the Maasai household with their families, households and livestock move to other areas of considerable or better place of favorable climate. Cultural belief and lifestyles In terms of chronology of events relative to the historical disposition, in terms of prehistory of the Maasai- they lived in the lands of their ancestors for many years in Tanzania and Kenya. Anthropologist, social commentators and historians have referred to that area as the “The Cradle of Mankind.” It is conventional knowledge and wisdom that human beings of the current generation can only trace the origin of their history to the extent to which they may learn from artefacts and fossils. In the fourteenth century the Maasai entered a sojourn to the lower parts of the Nile Valley and later on settled on the tropical zones and lands stretching Tanzania and Kenya. In the mid eighteenth century, the Maasai did extend their territorial waters and integrity by entering Tanzania where they raided natives over there for cattle. In 1870s a small subtribe of the Maasai called the Kore were captured by during one of their military escapades in Somalia and got assimilated there. In the modern day and society, they speak the Somali language instead of the Maa language. However, their heritage and ancestral history still qualify them to be called the Maasai. Social structure and gender roles The Maasai community is structured around uniqueness where the roles and duties of men are different from the roles and duties performed by women. At the age of puberty-boys are circumcised and ushered into adulthood, while girls are also passed through circumcision which has until the recent past attracted global condemnation called the female genital mutilation. It is also at this age where the men participate in raids for cattle and other things (Biswas, Vittersø & Diener, 2005). They also act as armies for the community where they perform defensive and offensive roles on behalf of the community. In terms of the hierarchy, once the boys marry and come of age, the become elders where they would adjudicate upon disputes and act as custodians of the laws and tradition of the community. The women on their part act as home makers where they would build homes called “manyatta” because the men would be in the battle fields. In terms of religion, they believe in the existence of a supernatural being-God to whom they pay homage and reverence to. Their God is called Enkai and utmost respect is to be given to them. Part II There are verbal and non-verbal cues or messages that are commonly used. The main difference between verbal and non-verbal message is that there is the use of words of mouth in the later and actions in the former. During the initiation ceremonies the elders use words to incarnate and indict the boys into the hall of elders or adulthood. Such words are used to instill courage wisdom and the spirit of resilience into the boys. However, the very process of initiation such as circumcision acts as a non-verbal show or rite of passage to all the others in the community. It is common knowledge and conventional wisdom in the Maasai community that once a person has been circumcised, all the other kinsmen and community would show respect and accord such men the reverence due to them. A symbol is an image or any other form of representation which bears a higher value or worth compared to the image. It could also refer to a material object or property which denotes or represents something else which is invisible to the ordinary eyes. There are three legged stool or chairs which is a show of seniority and only people of high quality and status are accorded or rewarded such chairs. In principle, it is expected that only custodians and people of commendable reputation would be in position to possess such chairs. Secondly, there is a stick or honor which is given to a person who does something extra ordinary to the community or the society. However, such sticks of honor are given to a person with people of his or her same age group or age set who are pleased with the level of excellence shown by such a person. The culture of the Maa community demand that young people show absolute respect and reverence while dealing with their seniors or elders. If a young person goes against the norms and traditions of the society and disrespects the elders, such a person would attract upon him or herself curses which would transcend from one generation to the next of the lineage of such a person. Similarly, there are strict line and patterns of marriage where a person is expected to adhere to (Goldman, 2003). It is a myth which is widely held that the ancestral spirits may invoke their wrath on a person if for instance a person marries in his or her community. A practical case and example of ancestral curses involve bareness, calamities to the whole community or the family may be struck by thunder. The community cannot then allow all of them to suffer due to the insolence or mistake of one person. Thus, incase Maasai community realize that one of them has married from “unwanted clans of families” such people would be banished from their own community and chased far away to avoid such calamities from befalling them. References Biswas-Diener, R., Vittersø, J., & Diener, E. (2005). Most people are pretty happy, but there is cultural variation: The Inughuit, the Amish, and the Maasai. Journal of Happiness Studies, 6(3), 205-226. Goldman, M. (2003). Partitioned nature, privileged knowledge: community‐based conservation in Tanzania. Development and Change, 34(5), 833-862. Roth, E. A., & Fratkin, E. (2005). Introduction. In As Pastoralists Settle (pp. 1-28). Springer US. Read More