fbpx

KidsKonnect

Maasai People Facts & Worksheets

The Maasai people are an Indigenous group of people who reside in Southern Africa, specifically Kenya and Tanzania.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Social Studies /World History /Maasai People Facts & Worksheets
Premium
Maasai People Worksheets
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

The Maasai people are an Indigenous group of people who reside in Southern Africa, specifically Kenya and Tanzania. The Maasai people are well-known for their distinctive cultural outfits and ceremonies. They are also known for their unique rituals and traditions.

See the fact file below for more information on the Maasai people or alternatively, you can download our 25-page Maasai People worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BACKGROUND

  • In 2019, a census in Kenya confirmed that there were approximately 1,189,522 Maasai people at that time.
  • Both the Tanzanian and Kenyan governments have created programs to try and get the Maasai people to abandon their semi-nomadic lifestyle, traditions, and customs and to adopt more modern lifestyles.
  • The Maasai people have remained loyal to their various traditions and customs. They have found a means of income by charging tourists to witness and participate in their cultural ceremonies.

HISTORY

  • It is believed that the Maasai people originally came from Northwest Kenya in the 15th century.
  • By the 19th century, the Maasai people had conquered a large amount of land stretching far across the southeastern side of Africa.
  • Upon their arrival, the Maasai people forced those residing in the area at that time to assimilate to their traditions and customs.
  • The period between 1883-1902 AD became known as the “Maasai Emutai”. During the period of British colonial expansion, a number of diseases, including smallpox, were brought to the Maasai people.
  • There was an intense drought from 1897-1898. During this time, the majority of cattle and livestock perished. Additionally, it was believed that two thirds of the Maasai people living at that time died.
  • Between 1891-1893. an Austrian explorer named Oscar Baumann traveled to the Maasai people’s lands. He described the Maasai people as looking like skeletons and being on the verge of starvation.
  • In 1904 and again in 1911, British colonists reduced the Maasai people’s land mass by 60%. The Maasai people were forced to leave their land to make room for new settler’s ranches.

THE MAASAI LANGUAGE

  • The Maasai people speak their own language called Maa.
  • The Maa language is apart of the “Nilotic” ethnic group.
  • The Nilotic ethnic group is a group of Indigenous peoples who originated by the Nile river. These people now reside in the northern, central, and southern parts of Kenya, as well as in northern Tanzania.
  • The majority of the Maasai people also speak the official languages of Kenya and Tanzania.

THE MAASAI PEOPLE’S CULTURE

  • The Maasai people follow a patriarchal society structure. This means that the men decide the rules and laws.
  • The laws of the Maasai people are passed down orally rather than written down.
  • Rather than send their community members to prison, the Maasai people believe in “amitu”, which means “to make peace”, as well as “arop”, which translates to a “substantial apology”.
  • The Maasai people worship one god that they call “Enkai” or “Engai”. This god has a dual personality, one that is vengeful and one that is kind.
  • There is also a human form that the Maasai people worship called a “laibon”. A laibon is a healer and prophet to the Maasai people.
  • Prior to the invention and use of modern medicine practices, the Maasai people had a high death rate among infants. The majority of children were known to die before reaching the age of three months. Once a baby reaches three months of age, they are called a “ilapaitin”.
  • The Maasai people believe that burying bodies in the ground damages the soil. This is why they only bury the bodies of their chiefs.
  • When a Maasai person dies, there is no ceremony or burial. Instead, the Maasai people traditionally leave the body for scavengers to eat. If the scavengers do not eat the body, they believe something was wrong with the body. As a result, the body and family members of the deceased are ostracized by other Maasai people.

BODY MODIFICATION

  • The Maasai people are known for their unique body modification practices.
  • In particular, the women are known to stretch their earlobes by piercing them with various materials, including twigs, stones, and elephant tusks.
  • Men and women also engage in a practice called scarification. This involves creating permanent marks or scars on the skin. The Maasai believe scarification is beautifying, but the government has prohibited it because it believes it creates ethnic divisions.

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION

  • The Maasai people have strict gender roles for boys and girls. The boys are seen to be the courageous warriors who protect their communities. In comparison, the girls are given domestic roles, such as cleaning and cooking.
  • When Maasai boys go through puberty, they are expected to participate in various “coming of age” ceremonies. These rituals are considered necessary “rites of passage” into adulthood.
  • Boy warriors spend the majority of their time patrolling the Maasai people’s land. Their main focus is to protect their community. However, they are also involved with cattle trading and bartering. Boy warriors use a variety of weapons, including shields, spears, and clubs called “Orinka”.
  • When a boy warrior becomes a Junior Elder, there is a ritualistic ceremony held called a “Eunoto”. At this ceremony, the boy warrior must shave off all of their long hair and wear their hair short.
  • The Eunoto includes a ceremony called “Adumu”. At this event, the new warriors must participate in competitive jumping.
  • When a new group of male warriors is being trained, the previous group will become “Junior Elders”. The Junior Elders are responsible for making political decisions until they become “Senior Elders”.
  • The Senior Elders are the most respected people in the Maasai community. The more challenging or difficult decisions to make are given to the more experienced Senior Elders. Some of these decisions include issues over farming or the burying of those who have died.
  • The Maasai people are known to practice polygamy. This means that the men in the group are able to have more than one wife. They are also known for practicing polyandry. Polyandry is the opposite of polygamy and is when a woman has more than one husband.
  • Divorce, although uncommon, does happen. The Maasai people call divorce “Kitala”.

Maasai People Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Maasai people across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Maasai People worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Maasai people who are an Indigenous group of people who reside in Southern Africa, specifically Kenya and Tanzania. The Maasai people are well-known for their distinctive cultural outfits and ceremonies. They are also known for their unique rituals and traditions.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Maasai People Facts
  • Marriage Diagram
  • The Maasai People Wordsearch
  • Manhood Timeline
  • History Matching
  • The Acrostic Ritual
  • The Maasai Crossword
  • Word Scramble
  • Fact or Myth
  • An Interview with the Maasai
  • Jumping Contest

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Maasai People Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 2, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources