Red is considered to be a sacred color and represents blood and is the basic color for all shuka. The vibrant colored cloth worn by the Maasai is known as shuka. He who jumps the highest attracts the best bride. The ritual is performed to show prowess and fitness and it forms a part of the celebration when the boys become eligible bachelors. Accompanied by song, pairs of men take turns to see who can jump the highest. The Adamu is the jumping dance that is performed as part of the initiation right when young adults become men.
The savannah land that makes up the famous parks of Ngorongoro, Amboseli, Serengeti, the Masai Mara, and Tsavo was all once the nomadic range of the Maasai people.ĭespite the pressures of the modern world, the Maasai have fought to preserve their way of life and as a result, any east African safari is awash with the sight of colorful Maasai, herding their cattle, walking along roads, or dancing the adumu.Īmongst the most famous Maasai traditions are the jumping dance, the wearing of colorful shuka, spitting, and the drinking of blood. Since that time, cattle have been viewed as sacred and their value is rivaled only by the value of their children, indeed, a large herd and a large family are the marks of a truly successful Maasai. Maasinta, the first Maasai, received a gift of cattle from Ngai – the sky god - who lowered them to earth on a leather thong. Maasai driving cattle into the ngorongoro crater They are renowned warriors and pastoralists who for hundreds of years roamed the wild of East Africa. The red-clad Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania is synonymous with the Great Plains and savannahs of Africa. Savannahs, lions, safari vehicles, and a red-robed Maasai, standing elegant and slender against the infinite horizon… Bushman, San or Khoisan, of Southern Africa.Maasai tribal women 6 African Tribes with Traditional African Cultures I’ve picked out 6 of my favorite African tribes to showcase Africa’s fascinating tribal traditions and the vibrant cultures of Africa. Perhaps South Africa best reflects this diversity through its constitution with all 11 official languages recognized by law. Now, while it is easy to homogenize and talk about ‘African people’, the truth is that within these 54 separate and unique countries, there are in fact over 3000 diverse African tribes! That translates to over 1.2 billion people. Africa is about 11.7 million mi² (30.37 million km²) in size! This means the US is 32.4% the size of Africa, and the UK is only 0.8% of the size.Īfrica has over 50 independent countries and accounts for about 16% of the world’s population.
It is the world's second-largest continent and the only continent that spans both northern and southern hemispheres. Find out more about the most fascinating African tribes and traditional African cultures in this post, along with recommended cultural tours in Africa.Ĭolonized and pillaged for more than 300 years, Africa is a rich and diverse place. (Largely because Africa is such a massive place). African culture, with its intriguing tribes and traditions, is a wildly diverse subject.
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