The Initiation Of A Maasai Warrior
The Initiation Of A Maasai Warrior
The initiation of a Maasai warrior is a book written by tepilit ole saitoti. The author has used the book to explain more about the Maasai community. The Maasai community is named after the language they speak. They are mostly found in Kenya and Tanzania. The author gives a personal account of the Maasai community. The Maasai community has always lived on herding. The Maasai graze their animals in the Great Rift Valley. The author analyzes the importance of circumcision in the Maasai community (Saitoti 1988).
The Maasai are nomadic pastoralist as they move from one area to another searching for water and pasture. The Maasai community values polygamy. A man is allowed to marry more than one wife. Polygamy is a common practice in the community. The author argues that boys are not allowed to marry if they have not been initiated into a warrior age group. After the initiation process, Maasai boys are allowed to marry and carry out other roles like herding. The Maasai mostly depend on milk and blood as the main source of food. The Maasai drink milk only daily basis and incase of shortage they mix blood and milk. The Maasai community has various beliefs. For example, people in the community believe that blood makes them stronger and they need to take it regularly. In addition, the Maasai believe that the number of cattle one has determines his richness. The wealth of a Maasai man is measured by the number of cattle one has. The communities believe that God provides the wealth (Saitoti 1988).
Circumcision is an important ritual in the Maasai community. The author has explained well how the Maasai community carries out circumcision. Circumcision helps young boys in the Maasai community transform from childhood to adulthood. The boys are circumcised at the age of 15. Tepilit is a term that means circumcision in the Maasai community. Circumcision implies a sharp knife cutting that is made on the skin. The cut is made on the most sensitive part of the body. Boys are not supposed to make any movement during circumcision. Boys are required to face one direction, but not to move the muscles and blink (Saitoti 1988).
Also, boys are not allowed to budge. Any slightest movement made during circumcision conveys an important meaning to the society. Boys who make movement during circumcision are seen as cowards, incompetent and untrustworthy. Boys are required to avoid any movement so as to be seen as trust worthy, competent and brave. The society considers boys to be adults and they can perform various roles that are performed by adult men in the community (Angeloni 1999).
Maasai believe that the pain one feels during circumcision is symbolic. The pain has a deeper meaning and people should respect circumcision. Circumcision implies a transformation from child hood to adult hood. The meaning of circumcision is shown in the quotation below “Circumcision means a break through between childhood and adulthood” (Saitoti 1988)
The author has listed the advantages of circumcision in the Maasai community. Circumcision has a lot of benefits to young boys in the Maasai community. First, circumcision makes one a full man. Boys who have undergone circumcision can make decisions as people respect their views. Also, boys can protect themselves and the community at large (Saitoti 1988).
Apart from the advantages of circumcision, the author also identifies things that are needed during circumcision. For example, one should have some wax and ostrich feathers before circumcisions. Boys should not involve themselves into sexual activities before circumcisions. Ostrich feathers are used to make the crown and the wax is used to make arrows. Also, one should look for honey before circumcision. The honey is used to make honey beer for elders to drink. One has to make proper preparations before circumcision so as to avoid disappointing the family and the members present. For example, one has to shave his hair before circumcision. The author argues that circumcision is like baptism and one has to make the right preparations.
Women in the Maasai community also undergo circumcision. The circumcision has a different meaning on a Maasai woman. For Maasai women, circumcision implies an end to the company of Maasai men. Women are required to get married immediately after circumcision. Most women get married to men who are twice their age (Hischberg & Hischberg 2004).
The essay is important as it helps one understand human beings. The author has expressed different characteristics of human beings. First, human beings have beliefs that guide them in their daily activities. The beliefs help maintain order in the society. Most communities have beliefs that are linked to wealth, polygamy and inheritance. For example, the Maasai community has beliefs like wealth and polygamy. The community values wealth and polygamy. The Maasai community believes that one has to get circumcised so as to become an adult (Hischberg & Hischberg 2004).
In addition, human beings have cultural values that interfere with the life of an individual. For example, cultural values like circumcision interfere with privacy of the person and also subject someone to difficulty situations. Circumcision in many communities has negative effects on women and men. Women can get infections from such practices. In the Maasai community women are required to get married immediately after circumcision to men who are older than them. This is not ethical as it interferes with the rights of other human beings (Saitoti 1988).
The Maasai community has similar beliefs, rituals and practices with other communities in Africa and other parts of the world. The communities share rituals like circumcision. They also share practices like polygamy and inheritance. Most communities in Africa and other countries value circumcision. The communities force young boys to undergo circumcision so as to transform from childhood to adulthood. The Maasai community believes that circumcision helps one transform from childhood to adulthood. There are some differences between Maasai circumcision and circumcision in the modern society. The modern society does not force girls to undergo circumcision like the Maasai community. This is because circumcision has adverse effects on women (Saitoti 1988).
Some communities in the modern society value polygamy. Men in the communities are allowed to marry more than one wife. In the Maasai community, men are allowed to marry more than one wife. Hence, the culture in these communities is similar to Maasai culture. In conclusion, the Maasai culture does not differ a lot with other cultures (Saitoti 1988).
Reference
Angeloni,E.Anthropology 00/01.McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 1999
Hischberg, T., & Hischberg, S. One world, many cultures. Pearson/Longman, 2004
Saitoti, T.O.The worlds of a Maasai warrior: an autobiography. University of California Press, 1988
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