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A little bit about Maasai

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Feb 15 2008 | By: admin

The Maasai tribe is composed of three major clans: Ilaitayiok, Ilaiser and Ilmolelian. These three clans got their names from the sons of the first elder who was married to three wives. Ilmolelians is comprised of five subclans: Iltaatasero, Ilmoingo, Ilpakeneti, Iloigerr and Ilmakesen. Among Ilaitayiok there are: Ilmarmash, Ilaitayiok, Ilmiraani and Ilmoshono. Ilaiserr is made up of Iloodokishu, Ilpartimaro, Ingidon’gi and Isekerr. Some subclans have some special beliefs and activities that are associated with them up to present day. Other subclans names are just for identifications, they don’t have any particular meanings, beliefs, or activities associated with them.

Ingidong’i got their name for being famous bee-keepers and the best honey harvesters. They are even believed to harvest honey while nude. Ingidong’i were also renown prophets and fortune tellers. They were used to prefigure the future and what calamity is coming on the land.

Iltaatasero subclan, where our chef (Maria) comes from, have strong beliefs over nature, e.g. when you get stung by a scorpion like myself yesterday, they are able to contain the pain and heal you. Further more when livestock get lost, they can perform an operation that livestock will not be attacked by carnivores for days while in the bush until the owner can find them. Their name “Iltaatasero”, comes from a type of poisonous snake. If the snake bites any member of this subclan, there will be no effect on them.

And please don’t ask me why all the names start with an I.

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Mt. Kilimanjaro, photo taken at sunrise from the plains below our camp

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6 Responses to “A little bit about Maasai”

Christine C., on 15 Feb 2008

Antony — Thanks for the great post…Facinating…I would love to hear more about the traditions, culture, and special talents of the Maasai in the future.

sheryl, washington dc, on 15 Feb 2008

I want to hear how all those names are pronounced (since I can’t ask why they all start with “I”). You don’t even want to hear how I’m trying to pronounce them in my head.

s.

THERESA SISKIND, on 16 Feb 2008

Antony, while I find all of these clans very interesting, Maria’s clan, the Iitaatasero, sparks the most interest. You mentioned they perform an operation to keep their lifestock safe from predators when they are lost in the bush. The Lion Guardians have their work cut out for them with this clan, for this is how our lions get into trouble. While I see the value in cultural beliefs, sound lifestock practices are needed. Do they use cow bells on them, so that they can more easily find the stray cows, goats, etc.?

Fiona Richard, on 16 Feb 2008

Antony, thank you for the update. I love learning about other cultures. What subclan do you belong to and what beliefs are associated with it?

Joy, on 22 Feb 2008

That is a very beautiful picture of Mt. Kilimanjaro! Asante sana!

lionguardians, on 23 Feb 2008

Theresa,
Most livestock owners use cow bells on their animals. They serve to both warn wild animals of livestock presence and to help in tracking lost herds. However, they still get lost! And the bells have very little sound range. (The downside is that they also alert wildlife of easy prey in case the livestock are lost.)

So, the ‘experts’ perform some interesting rituals at the homestead entrance and the owner is assured of finding the livestock before the wildlife do! They kind of blind the carnivores against the livestock.

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