What clothing do the Maasai wear?

What clothing do the Maasai wear?

The Maasai are famous and easily recognizable thanks to their traditional robe, the Shuka; it is a bright-colored cloth, predominantly red, wrapped around their lean and slender frames; red symbolizes Maasai culture and it is the color believed by these people to be able to scare off lions even from a great distance.

Why does the Maasai tribe wear red?

Red is the most important color; symbolizing courage, bravery, and strength. The Maasai also believe that red scares off predators like lions even at long distances. Red also represents unity within the Maasai culture because livestock are slaughtered when communities come together in celebration.

What is the difference between Maasai and Masai?

Maasai (not Masai) is the correct spelling of this noble tribe: it means people speaking maa. Masai was the incorrect spelling of the British settlers and has remained in current use. The Maasai have always been special. Their bright red robes set them apart visually.

Where do the Maasai get their clothes?

Originally, the Maasai wore leather-based animal clothing. In the 1960s, they began using commercial cotton as a means of payment following the slave trade. The natural black, red and blue dyes were obtained from Madagascar. Another explanation says that the Scottish missionaries brought it during the colonial era.

How do Maasai men dress?

Maasai Clothing: Clothing varies by sex, age and place. Young men wear black for several months after their circumcision. Although, red is a favored color among the Maasai. Black, Blue, checked and striped cloth are also worn, together with multi-coloured African garments.

What is a Maasai necklace?

The beaded handmade jewelry from the Maasai women is a tradition from this tribe, located in Southern Kenya. Before, the tribe used natural resources to create their jewelry. Clay, wood, bone, copper and brass are just few of the materials that were used.

What do Maasai girls wear?

The women wear big, beaded collars. Each color of bead represents something, red means bravery and strength, blue represents the color of the sky and rain, white shows the color of a cow’s milk, green symbolizes plants, orange and yellow mean hospitality and black shows the hardships of the people.

What are Maasai beads?

Maasai warriors wearing red and women wearing beads have come to be seen as symbols of “traditional” Africa. These colourful glass beads and red blankets play an important role in Maasai culture. For thousands of European tourists who travel to East Africa, a visit would be incomplete without buying beads and blankets.

What kind of dress does the Maasai tribe wear?

In place of animal skins, the Maasai tribe are well known for their traditional red dress. Known to the tribe as shuka (sheets), this red dress is never seen without beaded jewelry loaded around the neck and arms.

How did the Maasai adapt to the world?

The Maasai have also cleverly adapted to increasing globalization. They charge a fee for any photographs taken of them, using Western curiosity about traditional African cultures to their advantage. Maasai people in their shukas.

How are Maasai men taught to be men?

Maasai Men Within Kenya, to be born male into the Maasai tribe, is known to be born into one of the world’s largest (and last) great warrior cultures. Maasai men are taught the responsibilities of being a man from almost when they begin to walk. In other words, these men are taught to be warriors.

Why was Shuka cloth important to the Maasai?

The shuka cloth can alternatively be blue, striped or checkered and is known to be strong and thick to help protect the Maasai from the harsh weather and terrain of the savannah, hence the moniker; the African blanket.