I have chosen my paper on the African Cattle People, specifically the Massai Culture. The Massai culture seemed to have more than meets the eye when we studied them in class, so I had to venture on to a website to see what else I could find out about them. In general, the Massai have several practices: circumcision and clitoridectomy, an age group system, shaving of the heads of women, extraction of two lower front teeth, the one-legged stance of the heron, and the use of spit in greeting and benediction. The Massai’s religion, laibons, circumcisions, cattle, warriors, elders and cattle raiding were just a few characteristics of their culture, making themselves unique of all the rest of the world.Speaking first of religion, they seemed to be much like the Jews. The Massai regarded themselves as God’s chosen people, and share the belief in God’s promise to send them a Messiah. I found that there are two aspects of God: Engai Narok, the God which is black, the good God; and Engai Na-nyokie, the red or avenging god, which is an aspect of God’s holy anger. The black God is seen in thunder and rain, which brings grass to the cattle and prosperity to the Massai; the red God is expressed in violent lightning, which can strike and kill, and the extreme dry season, which brings famine and death. To the Massai, God is the master of life and death. One other interesting thing about the Massai religion was a mountain they called, Oldoinyo le Engai, “The Mountain of God”. The Massai think that it’s a gift from God, so they worship in its shadow. What really was fascinating was the story behind Engai, the Massai’s Supreme God. Engai had three children, and he gave each a gift. The first child received and arrow to make his living by hunting, the second a hoe to dig the land and grow crops, and the third a stick to use in herding cattle. And the third son, whose name was Natero Kop, was the...
