Stories and Beliefs of Maasai
Religion
The Maasai believe in a god called Engai, Enkai or Ngai, who is considered the creator of everything. This god gave people the grass, soil and cattle, making them sacred for the Maasai people. For them the soil is holy and they don’t want to spoil it. Due to that, when someone dies, they do not bury them.
The god does not have a gender and comes in two forms: the black god (Ngai Narok), who was benevolent; and the red god (Ngai Na-nyokie), who was vengeful.
Maasai people believe that at birth, Ngai gives each man a guardian spirit to ward off danger and carry him away at the moment of death. The evil are carried off to a desert, while the good go to a land of rich pastures and many cattle after death.
The Massai’s religious leader is called a Laibon and has authority over matters of religion, ritual and medicine. He is believed to have the power to vex, heal and prophesies. Despite having no political power it is by his authority that wars may be waged.
Cultural believes
The warrior (see pictures) is of a great pride of the Maasai culture. The role of the warrior is to protect their animals from human and animal predators, to build kraals (Maasai homes) and to provide security to their families.
The agesystem is highly respected and is honoured with many ceremonies. There are three special ceremonies for the boys: a ceremony when the boy gets circumcised, when he becomes a warrior (Eunoto) and when he becomes an elder (Olng’eshere)
At the age of 14, girls are initiated into adulthood through an official circumcision ceremony known as Emorata. Presently, the female circumcision ritual is outlawed in Kenya and its use is diminishing from the Maasai culture. Young Maasai girls are still taught other functional role like how to build houses, make beadwork, cook and clean their homes, by their mothers and older women. When they come of age, their parents choose a warrior from a respectable clan as an appropriate husband for their daughter.
