African Safari : Maasai and Samburu - Tale of two tribes : Caught in the twilight between tradition and modernity.
Indigenous tribes define the core of a community or country. Visiting a Maasai village in Tanzania and a Samburu village in Kenya was a ringside view of what the two very prominent East African communities stood for – no write up or video can get you close to the live conversations with the people themselves.
My fascination for learning about indigenous communities was kindled by the stories of the Yamana community of South America from our travel in Argentina and a ton of time we spent learning about the Aboriginal communities of Australia as we travelled from Adelaide to Darwin – the quintessential outback and Aboriginal land.
There is so much to know, understand and ruminate on without being prejudiced or judgmental about what they are based on what we are. What is vital is that we go there, observe, listen and understand in the spirit of curiosity and without judging … Read on as I share my thoughts..
There is also the constant debate on whether their staying what they were to sustain the tribal tradition is the right thing for them or if they are better off getting ‘modernized and educated’ and becoming a part of the mainstream society. I am deliberately refraining from opining as I am very mixed and conflicted in my own head. The effect of assimilation efforts by various colonising people has been mixed to say the least. The two tribes had a common origin. Both are Maa speaking Nilotic tribes who started as one in the northern Africa in 15th century and migrated down. Samburu stopped in Kenya. The more warrior like section, which is the Maasai stayed in Kenya but also went further down all the way to Tanzania conquering all the tribes in their path.
Both are nomadic and pastural in nature, speak slightly different variations of the Maa language, depend on their goats and cows for their food (meat, milk and blood for most part), social status and standing. Very distinctly laid out cultural and societal norms, institutions of marriage and polygomy, roles of men and women and code of behavior zealously protected and enforced by the “Council of Elders” (Adult members of the communities).
The Samburu, less impacted by the imperialistic invaders, take pride in staying more traditional in their customs. The Maasai became the must visit thing on the list for the international tourists.Absolutely fascinating cultural ceremonies including the very famous Maasai Jumping dance (the video enclosed).
While I am deliberately refraining from any views or judging on their ways of life, I can not refrain from expressing my strong grief about the FGM (female circumcision which ends up being the female genital mutilation) practices of the Samburu which I find cruelly disrespectful of their women and crudely medieval for 21st century. Already under pressure, I do hope the custom gets dismantled fast.
It’s a very different world all around and travel is such a passionate teacher constantly showing how grossly ignorant we are.
Want to know more? go to www.kenya-information-guide.com
