Discover the Maasai Tribe of Kenya that live with and take care of Lions

The Maasai were Kenya’s dominant tribe until the early 20th century when British troops drove them from their lands. Despite the fact that the British were able to defeat the Maasai, they were utterly impressed by their fighting spirit and courage. The Maasai have a long relationship with the lion that has gone back many generations. It was once a rite of passage for a warrior to kill a lion to prove his bravery. But now the relationship between lions and Maasai has changed as the Maasai now live alongside them and help protect them.
According to Maasai history the Maasai tribe is originally from north-west Kenya, north of Lake Turkana in the lower Nile Valley. Later on, they migrated south and settled in the Great Rift Valley and the Dodoma and Mount Marsabit region. They were feared for raiding cattle as far east as the Tanga Coast in Tanzania. These proficient warriors excelled in the use of shields and spears but were especially feared and respected for throwing their spears known as 'orinka', with expert precision across a distance of up to 100 metres.
Currently the entire Maasai population is estimated to be approximately 900,000. They speak the Maa language, but also speak the official languages of Kenya, which are Swahili and English. Traditional Maasai homes were traditionally built in a very non-permanent and on the go manner. Women of the tribe built the homes and did so in either a circle or loaf shape. The men of the village then build a large circular fence around the homes to defend their village.
The Maasai have a very patriarchal society. Maasai men and elders make all of the important decisions for Maasai tribes. They measure a man’s wealth in terms of the number of children a man has and heads of cattle. The more the better. Their diets traditionally consist of the raw meat and milk of their cattle and at times blood of cattles in times of drought. The hides are used to make furniture and the bones are used to create tools. The Maasai clothe themselves in colour swatches of cloth known as 'Shúkà'. The Maasai have a very colourful culture of music and dance. The women are known to recite lullabies, hum and sing songs of praise about their sons. There’s always one song leader, known as an olaranyani, who leads the group in song.
The Maasai traditionally hold 'coming of age' ceremonies during which the horn of the Greater Kudu is used to summon all of those coming of age, the initiates, to the ceremony. Such ceremonies last ten days or more and involve quite a bit of singing, dancing and flirting. During the ceremony young men will line up and chant towards a line of singing women standing across from them. A very unique and interesting sight to see. Some parts of Maasai tradition have changed in recent years. Until recently, the single-handed slaying of a lion with a spear was a requirement for all boys who wanted to become Maasai warriors. But now the relationship between lions and Maasai has changed as the Maasai now live alongside them and help protect them.
Lions help by killing other predators like hyenas who prey on their domestic animals. They grew to understand that without lions, there would be no natural balance and other animals would be killed. The Maasai community has adopted conservation by teaching the new generation about the importance of lions and learning to live with them by not destroying their habitat and avoiding human-lion conflict. A wider breeding space for them has allowed lions to thrive in their natural home. This has greatly encouraged tourism in the country and further contributed to economic growth.

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