The Maasai

Kelly Fetterolf

● Southern Kenya & Northern Tanzania● Language: Maa

● Around 1 million (hard to take census of)● 16 'sections' of people

● Began in the north and migrated south● 17th and 18th century accumulated most of

population as they migrated to present day locations

Conflict Begins● Traditional land agreement: no one should

be denied access to natural resources such as water and land

● 1911- British evict over 60% of Maasai lands to make room for settlers

● 1961 and 1963, Creation of Tanzania & Kenyan Independence○ Wildlife reserves and National Parks

Conflict begins

Loliondo District Conflict● 1992 Ortello Business Corporation ● 1,500 sq km for OBC● Displace 30,000 Maasai and affect many

more

Current Conflict

1:55-3:04

"Without land we cannot live"

● Women left jobless while men go to find work in cities● Women's outcry halted movement but President Kikwete and

ministry of tourism stand firm○ 2009 drought, Kikwete blocked Maasai from vital water

source to protect OBC- killing more than half of Maasai cattle

City Life

City Life

How others view them● Backwards● Lazy, just don't want to conform● Unintelligent and useless to society● Often are refused service● Poor treatment by employers

○ Often attacked at night○ Paid near $1 a day

How they view others● No desire to modernize more than they have to● 'Dirty', 'Dangerous', 'Hostile', 'Disease', 'Unkind',

'Exploitation'

● "Government is trying to strangle us economically, socially, and culturally every way that they can that serves an interest to them, attempting to destroy any sense of identity we have left"

Modernize or not?● "The very culture the government and

society rebukes as 'backward' and attempts to modernize through narrowing our lands and invading our culture is the same culture they are exploiting to the outside world, both locally and internationally, now explain THAT to me" - Elder Olol

● Luxury hotels and gift shops● Brochures and postcards● Actors and Actresses pose as Maasai● Same companies that refuse to hire the

Maasai use them in their marketing campaigns

● " My boss will force me to put on my Maasai clothing when he has guests from Europe visiting to take pictures with them"

● Promotes the Maasai in an incorrect manner

Maasai Market Place, Nairobi, Kenya

Strong Cultural Identity● Defying odds of civilization● Traditional dress● Continuing traditional rituals and

customs● Holding true to their belief systems