Chances is that if you've heard of Kryptonite, it's a fictional planet of the birthplace of Clark Kent famously known as 'Superman'.
His body is bullet proof, he can fly , rays comes off his eyes but he looks like human.
What if I told you that there is a tribe like that?
Okay, they aren't really made of metal but one can easily think like that.
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Maasai Men |
They are located in Kenya nd Tanzania (East Africa). They live in Maasai
I have always admired them even when I was a child.
One of my earliest memory as a child is that when I would refuse to eat, my dad would threaten me that he'll call a Maasai man.
Physically, the Maasai men are known to be tall, always carrying what Kenyans call, 'rungu'-which is like a form of weapon.
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| Maasai's Rungu |
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Maasais' Artifacts |
Majority of them live near game reserves and they are known to hunt lions when they attack their cattle. Cattles are a sign wealth in the Maa people.
These days, however, hunting of lions is not something that is in the norm because of the depopulation of lions.
I'm not from the Maa community but growing up, while visiting my grandparents, being far from the city was something I always looked up to.
Spending time with Maasai people made me understand why some westerners women visit Maasai villages and choose to stay there and not go back to their country or in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi . Something that even locals don't grasp.
It was at that moment that I understood everything.
Being from a country full of diversity is fun, but most of us take it as a norm.
Maa' people fascinates me a lot. It's how they wear their cultural clothes while in Narok, how the men dances including jumping so high while their neck seems to have a life of its own . The women dances with their necks as well.
My last visit to Maasai Mara got me all excited because Maasai got to dance for my collogues and I upon arriving at where I was staying. (Orng'atuny Mara King Camp).
That's not all. I even got to join in.
Anyway, there's a viral video about a Maasai catching a lioness red-handed (pun intended) eating his cow.
He then chased the lioness away. Normally, humans are supposed to ran away from lion but not vice versa.
Because in Maasai villages, everyone knows everyone, the guy is actually known in the community.
In the video, one can think that their spears are light by the way he throws it. The truth is its heavy.
Another video is of a Maasai man chasing a hyena who was trying to jump on his cattle.
Ever since I was a child, I've always seen Maasai people as warriors.
I actually think that the saying on bravery should be, 'as brave as a Maasai'.
They believe that a man should protect and provide and they pretty much take it to the next level.
I can imagine their pickup line to be something like, 'Does the unknown scare you? I am known by the wild and I'll make your name sacred'.-haha, okay! That's cheesy of me.
They drink cows' or goats' blood when they slaughter them.
One of the symbolic culture is the stretching of the ear .
No, it is not for fashion. The stretching of the ear holds a very dear meaning to them.
It symbolizes initiation to adulthood.
Yes, they also told me that it is painful. Looking back at it now. I wonder why I asked such an obvious question. But to my defense, I've always thought of them as warriors if not superhumans.
In Kenya, there are tribes that were known to practice the stretching of the ear. The Maasai, Samburu, Turkana, Kalenjin and Kikuyu.
I am actually a Kikuyu and my great grandmother had her ears stretched ,but my ears are pierced and not stretched. It's so rare to see a Kikuyu with a stretched ear these days.
Through the years, tribes that actively practice this act and art are: Maasai, Samburu and Turkana. They are like cousins. Their practices and beliefs are not that different from each other.
Fun fact: There are thousands of tribes in Africa and Maasai is just one of them .
Superman's weakness is, 'Krypton'-that we know.
(Krypton is a green stone that drains Superman's super human abilities)
The Maasai can take down a lion, forget about a hyena.
What are their weaknesses?
After spending two straight days with the Maasai, it changed me. I don't want to be pursued by flowers or chocolate. I just want a suitor who can say they've taken down a lion, ha-ha!
I can imagine a pick up line with something like this, 'Hey, I can roar your name till it grows roots on my tongue-like the lion I took down yesterday. What's your name?'
That's is such a lame joke, ha-ha!
Anyway, you should definitely plan a trip to Maasai Mara and spend a day with them. My colleagues and I slept at midnight that night ,just listening to their stories and asking questions. I specifically asked Willy if they are never afraid of lions.
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| Willy |
His response was, 'No, lions to us a is like a dog'.
He then, went ahead to explain that when a boy is young, they get taught how to protect their cattle from lions, hyenas.
He vividly explained that if a lion attack when they are in groups, they around it with spears. It's either that or they kiss a possibility of death.
I know!-like whoa! If not for clips online about the bravery of The Maasai people, one would think such actions are fictional.
They also practice polygamy. Way, way back in the day, polygamy was the norm among Africans and co-wives would co-exist with each other.
In modern day, this exists in all parts of the the world, just that it is done in secret and it is called, ' Cheating'.
All I can say is that we can all learn something from the Maa' people..' Be brave and live in the light'
You can book a safari with us to Kenya/Tanzania to experience adventure in the wilderness. Just say that Mimo directed you.
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