Black History Month
Maasai Seasons
Age/Grade Level or Audience
High school or college literature, history, or sociology classes.
Description
Chart the seasons from the Maasai point of view.
Procedure
Have participants volunteer to submit information about various aspects of Maasai life as it reflects the seasons. Include the following details:
- acquiring firewood for July and August, the cold months
- anticipating May's short rains
- dressing meat for cooking
- drinking blood when milk is scarce
- feasting during initiation ceremonies
- going on retreat to garner strength for battle
- making useful items from horn, hides, and gourds
- moving herds to available water
- pasturing, branding, and tending cattle, goats, and sheep
- preparing to hunt game
- repairing fences and kraals or compounds
- repairing huts with dung after the November rainy season
- storing water for the May to October dry season
- watching for predators and rustlers
Sources
Anderson, David M., Maasai People of Cattle, Chronicle Books, 1995.
Bentsen, Cheryl, Maasai Days, Anchor Books, 1991.
Hetfield, Jamie, Maasai of East Africa, Rosen Group, 1996.
"Kenya Web-People and Culture," http://www.kenyaweb.com.
Zeleza, Tiyambr, Maasai, Rosen Group, 1994.
Alternative Applications
Join with several partners to write a poem or song defining the periods of time that comprise the Maasai seasons. Alter tone and images to indicate hope and thanks to the gods for plenty of grass and rain. Chant your poem to the accompaniment of drum, flute, shekere, finger cymbals, scrapers, or thumb piano.