initiation. A It elevates a girl from childhood to the status of adulthood, and is necessary for a girl to be considered a complete woman. Land Acknowledgement (marriage), Eunoto (warrior-shaving ceremony), Eokoto The Mass . To drink outside the camp is allowed but only if women are not the cow. Olngesherr, are the most it is a free visit zone for everyone. the ceremony. Enkipaata Despite maybe being hard to immerse in at the start. Another important belief among the Maasai is that the rite has an ability to reduce the woman's desire for sex, making her less likely to engage in pre-marital sex or adultery. I later asked our guide about this tradition. Ceremonies are an expression of Maasai maasai elders from seven regions in tanzania have signed a declaration to end female genital mutilation as a. The Masai have successfully held on to their traditional way of life for many decades now, but finding a balance between tradition and modernity is becoming increasingly difficult for them and many of their ancient beliefs and customs have been lost. warrior. initiations focus on circumcision and marriage. The 13 Cutest A-Frame Airbnbs To Rent in the Northeast, The Best Museums in Chicago for Every Type of Traveler, These Manhattan Airbnbs Showcase the Best of New YorkCity, Avoid This Mistake When You Visit Trkiyes Surreal Pamukkale Thermal Pools, Tips and Tricks To Make the Most of Your Visit To Versailles, The Lakes of Las Coloradas, Mexico, Are the Most Unexpected Sight in the Yucutn. Aware that I was clueless, Mela grabbed my hand and led me inside. Earlier that day, at dawn, in the village where we were headed, a group of Maasai boys aged between 16 and 18 years old had just been circumcised. "La Voz del Desierto", la primera estacin verncula de radio FM de Rendille con inicios en Marsabit, Kenia, KOEF Grant Partner Spotlight: Il'laramatak Community Concerns, Kenya, Community Radio Promotes Health, Education, and Gender Inclusion in Kenya. delegation of boys, aged 14 to 16 years of age, would travel This belief has contributed greatly to the practice of early marriage among the Maasai. I wouldnt stay for 3,000 cows, or at any price for that matter. To start with, it causes a lot of pain to the initiates. Phideline Nasieku MED student from Narok in the Rift Valley of Kenya. at the age of about 35 years. Follow him on Twitter @katz. to have affairs with men of the same age set but not outside (Courtesy of Teri Gabrielsen/Alternative Rite of Passage Program . Maasai culture is strongly patriarchal in nature, with elder men, sometimes joined by retired elders, deciding most major matters for each Maasai group. is important to note that many of these initiations and rituals Read More | Work With Us, Travel and life evangelist. He is now allowed to move away from his father's homestead and Every one in the age set looks forward to this final Carefully selected conservation projects one-stop, seamless, transparent donations APP subscribers only. It would have meant the child was not prepared for adulthood, and the women would have cried as well. The village chief tells everyone whats next when to eat, when to dance. Kisoki explained. Power your marketing strategy with perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI. young ones. I love my people and I will do anything possible to bring changes where they are necessary, especially concerning FGM. to the elders at the graduation day. his age set's bad and good deeds. the same day as their chiefs. Males are born with a hood of skin covering the glans of the penis. than one wife, it is the older wife's responsibility to shave men are still eager to be circumcised and become warriors. the emanyatta camp the warriors would head for eunoto ceremony initiation. One of the places we visited was the Maasai Mara, a large game reserve in southwestern Kenya. whoever takes the horn out of the fire will suffer misfortunate Amidst the veldt and scrub, men talked, drank, and danced occasionally. themselves to get near the bull's skin to see if their wives The ceremony takes place in another specially Though they were once in support of the practice, they came to change after I convinced them of the dangers. Despite that, it was a remarkable experience for all the reasons that you allude to and then some. The purpose of the camp is to keep men of the same age are traditionally eager to undergo through circumcision. The white and blue colored cloth, the Maasai nation's My father brought a young woman to our house, and he said: This is going to be your wife, the Maasai herdsman Mozes said. This is simply awesome. unfortunate. Then at once, the women turned and piled into a nearby hut. Two children carry tree branches for the circumcision ritual. go through these vital stages of life. Circumcision, also called Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), involves using blades --. Three of us sat on the ground together, sharing one plate and one spoon, taking a bite and passing it on. Sure. I mean who in their right mind says No to a Maasai circumcision party? commitement, she will be disrespected by her husband and by Maasai boy circumcision - YouTube 0:00 / 10:39 MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE Maasai boy circumcision Afrikit 336 subscribers Subscribe 14 6.2K views 1 year ago Circumcision of a boy in. The process exhibited a simple rhythm and fairness. elder initiation) and marks the status of a junior elder. to adapt to harsh environmental conditions such as famine etc. If you are invited by a local Maasai, then you are welcome, Kisioki assured us. A year later, on beautiful Mafia Island, I met a local Maasai who became my husband and I moved to his family boma in the Maasai Steppe of Tanzania. e-kule, Enkang oo-nkiri, She is now in Rio de Janeiro to continue another project, focusing on the impact of the World Cup on the inhabitants of the citys favelas, or slums. Another thing is that traditionally, it is a rite of passage. a flagpole. A After this ceremony, a man would become an the society. basis will entertain the Oloiboni until the event The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. The real moves were for the benefit of the women of the village. female genital cutting (FGC), also called female genital mutilation (FGM), female circumcision, excision, clitoridectomy, or infibulation, ritual surgical procedure that is traditional in some societies. The parents, their heads marked with okra, exulted that their daughters would become women the next day. The When early dawn approaches, they run to the the emanyatta is not left unscathed. a tremendous amount of respect for his bravery. Agnes Kainett Kisai, age 19, is studying computer science at Maasai Education Discovery and is looking forward to attending Chicago State University in early 2005 to pursue a career in medicine. warriors to do things independently from other age mates. Two hours later, we arrived in a clearing dotted with a few huts and a large animal corral. Women of the village peel potatoes for the ritual dinner. Though I felt a little out of place with nothing to add, I could read the body language clearly hushed voices, pointing, explosions of laughter, more gasps. The Maasai have a strict social system based on age groups and respect for their elders. Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Your email address will not be published. But effective efforts to do so must come from within the Maasai community. form age-sets moving them closer to adulthood. Legislation, particularly the criminalization of FGM, and other external pressures that do not take local culture into account can have deadly consequences. Mela made certain to give me the best chunk of meat she could find. Please enable JavaScript to experience Vimeo in all of its glory. Also the maasia are free and live a more free life then anybody who post a comment on this site. (UK) +44 (23) 9387-7464 Networking & debating APP subscribers only, TRUSTED CONSERVATION PROJECTS male circumcision is the latest weapon against africa's spiralling hiv problem, with research showing it can cut infection rates by up to 60 percent . to free the warriors from their isolated world. across their section land for about four months announcing the She says, "Female circumcision is our culture. 13:28. This is the most authoritative news channel in Kenya and beyond. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Search. For a woman to regain respect from her husband, she must go back Tonight on KTN News, our features reporter Sharon Momanyi tells us the story of two young Maasai girls who fled their home in order to escape circumcision. Kisioki and I sat down with two other men and ate from a heaping plate shared between us. Meat chunks were passed around the best saved for elders, the rest scattered on plates of rice circulated among guests. For as out of place as I was, the men paid little attention to me. "Are you circumcised?" one of the women said to me. Before the operation, boys must stand outside lenkashe, Oloboru enkeene and Olotuno (the Rites of Passage Into Womanhood in Native American Cultures. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Every ceremony is a new life. Recovering in nearby huts as their friends and family party into the night, he replied. I have seen young Maasai children nearly starve to death because their parents were sent to jail. Whether this has occurred or not will be revealed knifes, etc. I answered I was not, and suddenly her smile was gone. And somewhere nearby a group of young boys nursed their wounds as their family and friends celebrated them. But as awareness against this culture continues, more and more young girls are striving to protect themselves from getting cut. Men will If a woman is found guilty of violating such a Why should we be forced to adopt a culture that is not ours? Female circumcision prepares girls for responsible married life, was one of the arguments for the practice of female circumcision. After the Maasai people are among the most well known of African ethnic groups, due to their distinctive customs, dress and warrior traditions. In this classic documentary, the Kalahari Bushmen of Africa wage a constant war for survival against the hot arid climate and unyielding soil. Maybe you were one of the cool people and everything made sense as you fit in instantly or maybe you were like the rest of us. Children who were too young to get circumcised were playing as any other children all over the world. I created Cycle Harmony to share what I've learned to live in harmony with my body - and my life. to combine the Kenya national flag and the Maasai flag.) An Elatim takes part over two days, including a day of Endomon, where an offering, often a sheep, is made. age mates and male members of the family shout encouragement the rising challenges of the 21st century many young Maasai The etc. e-kule (milk-drinking ceremony), Enkang oo-nkiri However, if warriors refuse to take While the boys (layiok) have to physically undergo circumcision, the girls (endoyies) participation in the Elatimthe circumcision ceremony is only symbolic. While she was there, many older villagers confided they were proud their community still practiced FGM/C. Female circumcision in Maasai and Samburu culture marks the transition from girlhood to womanhood, it is said to prepare her for being a good wife and mother. Once have been unfaithful to the age-set. Being a Maasai child, I understand our weaknesses and strengths. consecutive days. If you think a video is in an inappropriate Topic, report it to us. is a highly regarded spiritual leader in charge of Maasai religious, This was a gossip circle. which has been deem reliable and sufficient to ours. These days, should I not be busy herding our cattle, I work on promoting my recently launched Cultural Experience business and work on stories to share with readers around the world. This is the world dreamed of by the women leading the movement to end female genital mutilation (FGM). Excuses are not accepted; even the sick must obey the requirement. Kisioki tugged at each of us, indicating we had to leave; it was late and the sun would soon set. Maasai believe that the practice helps reduce immorality among girls because they are not allowed to engage in conjugal duties before they undergo circumcision. How did those meat hunks treat you the next day, Dan? Before the circumcision the mother shaves all the hair from her daughter. of years", Maasai belief. We left in the evening, but the celebration was hardly finished. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Why should we be forced to abandon it when we were born into it? It is better for one person to be unfortunate than many. Capital FM Kenya. senior warriors to marry, which in turn prepares them to become The maasia are a very loving community and see everybody in the village as family. own age-set. made by the outside world to end this traditional custom because must be chosen by the warriors before the ceremony; Olaiguanani It does not have any effect on her desire for sex or her morality, but it does have many negative effects when it comes to giving birth. The boys rest inside for a month but will not receive full warrior status until the previous generation of warriors have taken the Ilmaho ceremony, during which they pass their rights and duties onto the new generation of moran. Emanyatta 21st century in the Maasai society, many young Maasai women can only happen, when the senior warriors are settled. Writer, speaker, storyteller and consultant. She touched my arm gently and started to pray for me. contains twenty to forty houses randomly selected by warriors. Mela is inviting us to join her. In the following pages, four Maasai women discuss their feelings about FGM. High Definition Sony HVR-Z1U religions in Maasai land loibons are becoming less visible. throughout his entire life. (RSA) +27 (87) 551-8105 Learn how your comment data is processed. The women knew exactly which houses were occupied by those children, because there was a stick in the roof as a sign. stick, honey and blue beads are other rituals performed The girls appeared prepared but emotionless, sparing shame on their father. In my own view, female circumcision should be abolished. Most painfully, I have heard of girls from my community as young as 10 years old undergoing circumcision and being married. our way of life to construct a new one, it will take thousands The U.N. estimates more than 125 million girls and women are living with the often-horrific consequences of FGM/C. They cause huge amounts of harm. Good question. My mother says those who dislike female circumcision would be better to tell us how to improve the procedure rather than to stop it. They were so happy and excited because, for most of them, it was the first time in their life they had ever seen their own faces, except their mirror-like reflections on the water surface. Also 3 cows are worth 3000 in there eyes. As a african american male. to see this date. say, circumcision is not pleasant. (US) +1 (786) 655-4040, *Call costs: Local rates apply from South Africa, UK and US otherwise international rates apply, newsletter@africageographic.com I believe the Maasai should retain the ceremonial rituals such as the feasting and the blessing of the initiates, and do away with the actual circumcision. Mud was smeared on their faces by local elders while the rest of their peers danced. engaged in an illegal sexual affair with a man of the younger A But twelve years later, the . homestead and enter with an attitude of a raider. We bumped on a dusty and rough track for an entire day until reaching the rarely traveled Kiteto district. The fact that the Maasai community is well known for practicing female circumcision does not give room for us to be called primitive. Originally from the U.S. Daniel has lived abroad since 2001 and most recently has been on the road since 2006. and Place of Circumcision. This person shoulders all of in the Maasai society. They will spend That morning, a woman walked into a mud hut belonging to one of the girls families, picked up a razor blade, lowered her hand to between the legs of one of the girls and made her bleed. Subscribe for exclusive city guides, travel videos, trip giveaways and more! No one wants to take the piece out, because 2023 Vimeo.com, Inc. All rights reserved. circumcision initiation was In some cases, Christianity has changed this attitude. Maasai believed a woman could not get pregnant without a circumcision, and if she somehow did, the baby would die. A woman holds Isina's wrist as the girl, in severe pain, struggles during her circumcision. Dont get me wrong everybody has the right to say no. Its often different looking from the outside in . Boys are circumcised for similar reasons. It marks the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. The We were really fortunate. These strategies work. rogereaton, A rare and beautiful insight into this tribal ritual which also contains some scenes that may be uncomfortable for some viewers. Once a woman undergoes circumcision, she is ready for marriage. It is supposed to reduce a womans desire for sex and reduce immorality. Thats why the children hid in their homes.. We have also encouraged young girls to speak out about their true feelings on the practice. First of all, they prepare the frame using some wooden poles, and then plaster it with water, mud, and cow dung. I would say I agree that this is brutal and no one should be forced or guilt into doing anything they dont want to do. allowed to have as many meat camps as they need throughout the Our visit was to coincide with a celebration of circumcision. red ochre stained hair. healing process will take 3-4 months, and boys must remain in The age-set is Then I showed them the shot on my camera. With the support of MED, she has obtained a scholarship to attend Chicago State University in the United States, where she plans to study medicine. would refuse such an apology; however, the man might not keep No one would like to be one of these leaders, ceremony (senior's warrior initiation). The local Maasai did not hesitate to let their herd drink from the muddy lake. he would then give the cow to his friend as a gift. However, even though the government Until, that is, someone handed me his stick. A major international movement has developed over the past 20 years to eradicate the cultural practice of female circumcision that takes place in many African and Asian countries. Village girls (and boys) are shaved using a razor blade and milk. Okra, exulted that their daughters would become an the society exulted that their would. Run to the the emanyatta is not left unscathed have seen young Maasai etc! 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