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Submitted by: Irene O.

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I have visited the Masai several times and really wonder how they can live the way they do. They are as Arjen said a proud tribe and also proud of their lifestyle. They live in Manyata's, villages with houses made of mud and cowshits.For the Masai the cattle is most important and shows their wealth. Also a large number of children is important to them. I have met with Masai who became more modern, they do hang out in the tourist area and sell souvenirs. Often they leave the country with a white lady and have a life abroad. Not always with good ending, they return cause the difference in life style is to extrem. There are many tribes in Kenya who keep their traditions, some really traditional, others just keeping some traditions to honor. My personal opinion is that people who are living a life time with their own traditional style should not change their lifestyle. They are not going to be happier. Especially the older ones. For the younger generation the Western will finally bring in their influence. It does take time for the Masai to change their life style but at the end they will too I fear. And that wil be a lost for Kenya. The diverse in tribes and their traditions are very interesting so I hope it will stay.

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Submitted by: Arjen (webmaster)

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I've never asked this question to a Maasai, even when I had the chance to do so. But I think it's a mix of many reasons. For one, The Maasai can be very proud people. They believe their lifestyle is the morally right lifestyle, approved by the gods and their forefathers. Some Maasai will like their old life style better. Breaking away from the traditional life style would often mean moving to another town or city, i.e. leaving their family and clan members behind and exchanging the things they can be certain of for a very uncertain, even dangerous future. In Kenya, like elsewhere, there's a migration from rural areas to the city, but often the newcomers end up in the slums around the city with few means of income (Nairobi has one of the biggest slums in the world - more than half of Nairobi's 4 million inhabitants live in the slums. I've visited them and it's not a pleasent place to live). The Maasai's current life may be hard in many respects, but changing this may give other hardships. This is my limited understanding of this issue; I hope others join in and add their knowledge.

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