Matebete Village, Part 1---the Masai tribe

We went to visit the village of Matebete, a Masai village, one Sunday morning. I had heard about the Masai tribes in Africa and had seen them on t.v., but I had not realized that they are in Tanzania. They number about 430,00 in Tanzania, and there are also many in Kenya.

Masai are known for being nomadic people, cattle herders, and fierce warriors. The Masai history is very interesting. They believed that all cattle had been given to them by God, and thus it was not wrong to take cattle from other people---it was only taking back what was rightfully theirs. They fought with spears, shields, and clubs known as orinka. The orinka can be accurately thrown about 100 meters. The Masai moved from place to place in order to find food and water for their cattle. They lived among the wild animals of Africa, but they did not eat wild game or birds. In the past, their diet was mainly meat and milk from the cattle. They mixed and drank blood with the milk.

The next two photos show the Masai orinka club that we bought in Tanzania.

In the following photo the man on the bicycle has a club hanging on his waist. This is where the men carry them.

Today the Masai are much more peaceful people. Many have converted to Christianity and a few have become Muslims. They tend to stay in one place more, partly because of government encouragement. They eat maize, beans, fruit, rice, potatoes, and cabbage. The measure of wealth is still the number of cattle and children. 50 head of cattle is a respectable number. But even with 50 cattle, if a man does not have many children, he is not considered respectable. Multiple wives are common. Boys, beginning about age 4, herd the cattle. Women make houses, carry water, collect firewood, milk cattle, and cook. What do the men do? I am not sure!

Today the Masai do other kinds of jobs, such as farming and having small businesses. Many women make and sell the traditional bead jewelry.

Following is some of the jewelry that the women make to sell.

Masai can be easily spotted because of their traditional clothes, although many have begun to wear modern clothes. Some of the men still carry the clubs and large knives. Fewer and fewer are following the custom of piercing and stretching of the earlobes.

There have been Masai students in the School of Biblical studies and also in the School of Preaching at Chimala. There is an active church in the Matebete village. Two Masai came to read with our LST group.

The first photo shows Ron going up to two young boys who were herding cattle in the village.

The boys are dressed in the traditional clothes of the Masai.

Following are photos of some of the people. Notice the pretty jewelry.

The two women in the next picture were dressed in their finest for church.

This next man is what people usually think of when they think of Masai people. He is very tall and very thin. Many of the Masai of today are not so tall and thin.

If you look closely at the next photo, you can see huge holes in the man's earlobes!

There are birds in the trees in the next two photos. They were unusual birds with strange calls. The trees are bare because it was winter when we were in Tanzania.

Next are views of Matebete.