MASAI

"Formerly the scourge of other tribes, the Masai raided them for cattle. Enemy men were killed but the women were spared. Today the Masai is an exclusively pastoral society. No fishing is done and only a little honey gathering is done. Only buffalo and eland are hunted. All other game, fowl, and eggs do not form part of the Masai diet. The main diet consists of meat, milk and blood. Milk may not be boiled and may not be drunk on the same day that meat was eaten. Blood is drawn from the necks of cattle and above the eyes of sheep by a specially designed arrow. Herding is the responsibility of the men. Young uncircumcised boys are the chief herders, but occasionally the old men will also do a bit of herding. Women, especially the young girls, do the milking. Trading is also done by the women. Wealth is measured in the number of livestock one owns. Men allocate their cattle among their wives to be inherited by their respective sons. The eldest son of the chief wife receives a larger share. If a wife has no sons her cattle goes to another wife.

A man is only allowed to marry after he graduates from the warrior age grade. Polygamy is the rule. Although each wife has her own hut only one is the chief wife. Wives are divided into a right hand and a left hand house with separate gates into the compound. Wife lending is common between men of the same age set. Sexual relations with one's brother's wife or wife's sister is forbidden. Sexual relations between a married man and an uninitiated girl and a married woman and either a warrior or uninitiated boy are also forbidden. Only childless widows are allowed to remarry. Marriages may not take place between men and women of the same age set or with women of a senior age set. After marriage a young man may live temporarily in his father's kraal; however, eventually every man establishes his own independent kraal.

As the Masai is a pastoral people settlement are migratory, moving from place to place when pasture is needed. Settlements consists of kraals and huts. Huts are elongated with flattish roofs and rounded corners. Interlaced with grass and smeared over with plaster, poles are bent over and tied together to form the framework of the huts. Each community has its own council of elders governing it; however, the warrior community has its own independent organization.

Boys aged 14-16 are circumcised at the entrance into the junior warrior age set. Age sets are 15 years apart and the junior and senior warrior age sets overlap."

• Country: Kenya
• Percent Christian: 82.1%
• Percent Evangelical: 34%
• Population (Year): 30.8 million (1995)
• Major Religion: Christianity
• Openness to Missionaries: Open"

1. HAVE THEY HEARD THE GOSPEL?

Who is Jesus Christ to them? 9% Believe Jesus is the Son of God

2. HAVE THEY RESPONDED TO THE GOSPEL?

Believers to population: 1 believer to every 11 persons (total believers - 34 380)(9%)

3. DO THEY HAVE A CHURCH?

Yes, but it is uncertain how many churches have been planted. However, these churches are still very young.

4. DOES THIS PEOPLE HAVE THE WORD OF GOD TRANSLATED INTO THEIR MOTHER TONGUE?

Yes. The Maasai Bible was published in 1992.

5. ANY HINDRANCES TO SCRIPTURE DISTRIBUTION?

Their semi-nomadic lifestyle does hinder distribution somewhat.

6. WHAT OTHER FORMS OF GOSPEL PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

Not sure.

7. ARE THEY RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE AND TO CHRISTIANITY?

Over the last few years the Masai has started to open up towards change and Christianity.

8. DO THEY REQUIRE OUTSIDE (CROSS-CULTURAL) ASSISTANCE?

Yes, especially because the few churches are still young."