RICH MAA HERITAGE

Maa is a community found in the Rift Valley.It has very rich culture and it is known to be the only community in Kenya that still values their culture despite modernaization.

It has 3 main speakers i.e Samburu,Maasai and Illchamus.They are distinguished by cattle marks and also their beadwork.

Circumcision.

In the community,this is a very significant stage for boys.When they attain the age of being initiated,they are secluded and taught duties which were believed to be done by men e.g providing security and hunting.

After circumcision,they are known as illmurran (morans).After this stage,they are ready to marry and have children.

Pastoralism.

Cattle keeping is their backbone.Cows are used as a measure of wealth in the community.They move from one place to another in search of water and pasture for their animals.Their lives mainly revolve around cattle.

They are not only a measure of wealth but also central to many of their ceremonies and rituals i.e when a cow is slaughtered,they pour blood on the ground to appease their ancestors and also,cows are used as a way of asking for forgiveness or blessings from God Enkai or the elders of the community.

Housing.

The community has a unique housing known as manyatta,Emanyatta.The houses were made of cow dung and dry twigs which were used for support.This was a duty assigned to all women.

Each homestead has houses which are equal to the number of wives.The man of the home has his own house where he sleeps and eats from.The homestead is surrounded by inkiku this are dry thorns which act as a fence.

In the houses,dry cow dung is used as cooking fuel.Also,they sleep on dry skin olchoni from the slaughtered animals.

Naming.

Children are important in maa since they are a measure of wealth.Childbirth is a source of great joy in the homestead.Children are named according to seasons and time they are born in.

For example,for boys,Leshan means one born during rainy season,Lemayian means blessed and in girls,Naeku means one who came early,Nashipae means happiness just to mention a few.

Marriage .

In maa this is a very important rite of passage.In the past, before modernaization,after circumcision,the boys and girls were ready to start making families this is because during that period, they are taught duties done by their elders.A girl was eligible to be married off at the age of 15 years.The girl would be married off to an old man close to her father's age.They were not allowed to find suitors for themselves.

Expression of Art and Adornment.

During ceremonies,they beautify themselves in several ways some of them include:morans apply ereko (red ochre)on their heads and legs,they put on hair on their heads known as oltaika to spice up the dances.

Women put on several adornments such as intirben,imuna and also shukas ilkarash.The shukas have different coloures but are mostly:red(representing blood and courage)

Blue:(to represent energy and the sky)

Green:(to represent pastoral land)

Some women also extend their earlobes to facilitate the wearing of imuna(beadwork earrings).

In conclusion,maa is a very wide and interesting culture to learn about.I have delved into some of the maa cultural practises.

As we reflect on these insights,let us strive to honour and appreciate the spirit of Maa.