The Maasai: A brief history NDW 4M info/maasai.jpg

The migration from the Nile Valley  Maasai came from the north, Probably from the region of the Nile Valley in Sudan  They left this area sometime between 14 th and 16 th centuries  Migrated south toward Great Rift Valley  Maasai oral history states they come from a crater or deep valley (Endikir-e-Kerio)  Exact location unknown, but they did migrate south after a drought  Entered Kenya to the west of Lake Turkana and quickly spread south through Rift Valley  Fertile grasslands ideal for cattle  Reached present-day Kenya and Tanzania around 17 th or 18 th centuries

Maasai territory

The early 19 th century  Until 1930s Maasai a cohesive nation and formidable fighting force  Land expansion necessary to feed ever-increasing cattle herds (essential to life and culture)  Their neighbours lived in fear – those in open country put up defence works and others lived on higher ground unsuitable for cattle  Other tribes opted for trade and marriage alliances, others became experts at rituals  Maasai power not confined to neighbours, the Arabs who traveled the caravan routes had to cede to the Maasai

The arrival of “those who contain their farts”

The Europeans arrive…  More and more Europeans arrive in Kenya the last half of the 19 th century  Missionaries were first to arrive and their attitude of moral outrage set the tone for subsequent colonial history  Missionaries had little impact and are frustrated in their efforts at converting these “heathens” to the present- day  Explorers had damaging and lasting impact  Maasai land targeted for colonization because of climate and natural resources – to provide homes and lands for white settlers  British Army also came during this time

The rinderpest epidemics of  Series of disasters occurred that were associated with arrival of British – greatest catastrophe Kenyan tribe would suffer  Epidemic of pleuro-pneumonia which decimated herds  Next came febrile rinderpest which by end of 1880s reduced Maasai herds by 80%  Maasai people were hit with cholera, drought, famine, smallpox which took population of 500,000 to 40,000  Remaining Maasai forced to submit to colonial rulers rather than fight them

Colonial (mis)rule  British colonization began in earnest around 1885 when railway construction began linking Mombasa on the coast with Kampala (in present day Uganda)  1904 after years of warfare thousands Maasai killed and they had no choice but to accept loss of their land  1904 Maasai Agreement reduced territory by 2/3 and forcible ‘relocation’ took place to distant reserves in southern Kenya and Tanzania  British government racist and felt they were “protecting” the unintelligent Maasai  British stole the Mau Escarpment near Lake Naivasha, which was one of the Maasai spiritual lands promised to them by God (white settlers continue to live there today) – also lost access to fresh water all year round = disastrous

Colonial Rule continued…  Maasai petitioned courts from 1914 onwards for return of some of their lands – finally given some back but lost over half their territory for good  1930s further land loss when British encouraged neighbouring tribes to settle in Maasai territory  By late 1930s government introduced poll taxes to force Maasai to sell their livestock – intended to reduce Maasai’s need for land  WWII colonial administration reduced quota of cattle Maasai allowed to have – 2,000 a month to be sold to meet food reserve for military

Independence – more of the same…  Things were no better after Kenyan independence – more Maasai land taken by agriculturalists, land redistribution programs, and game reserves  Poverty results and social disorganization did not convince the Maasai to settle  Since 1979 Maasai useful in politics versus other tribal enemies  Governments in Kenya and Tanzania persist in trying to convince the Maasai to make permanent agricultural settlements and to give up their traditional way of life in favour of formal education and cash economy photos.igougo.com