The village which
I will describe is located in the "Loita plains" Sanctuary
of Masaï Mara beside
" kilometer five " of Mara Paradise and
Mara Buffalo, coming on track C13 from Narok towards Lolgorien. Altitude
is 1500 meters on average, temperature is a very pleasant 28°C during
the
day most of the year and 15 to 20° at night in summer (December to February)
but perhaps 5 to -5°C during the winter (June to August). The season
of big rains
is " normally " from April 15 to June 15 and the small rains come during November
15 to December 15. Apart from the places where the animals are, and where
they
leave their droppings, there are almost no flies or mosquitos. With regard
to
vaccinations, I was inoculated against yellow fever, which is really necessary
necessary, and obligatory, but I take nothing else. To combat the flies
I take along insect repellant, one for fabrics, and another for skin.
Here are all the collars and bracelets with which I
was decorated
for the day of the wedding
Aerial photograph of the village (after the rains)
Two Masaï villages in warm sumset light (in the
dry season)
The Masaï Wedding
The Masaï people is happy
Masaïs live in small villages and have large
herds of cows which provide them with milk and meat. They live very simply
and are able to keep very clean considering the difficulties they face in
find water
(the women must walk many kilometers each week to fetch water).
It is obvious that they are a very happy and contented people.
Amongst the Masaï people, marriage is a great festival,
and all the village is invited.
Muzungou (white people) are only very seldom invited (due to superstition)
and I must
say that I felt very privileged to have been asked to attend
On the left is Samuel the brother of the groom, and
all the children who are ready for
the event. It is 7am. In the center, Jackson the groom and his brother are
ready for
the procession. Yankiki the future bride who is 14 years old, is hidden under
covers
outside the village, because she is not allowed to look to the side nor behind.
On the right-hand photograph, it is now at the entrance
to the village, the covers
are removed and everyone walks very slowly - one small step every 2 seconds.
This rate of 500 meters per hour continues without speeding
up.
They walk as slowly as possible towards her new life of a married
woman without speaking a word. They continue on the path from
where they were an engaged couple, which takes them along
towards their new village, (3 kilometers) and towards their
new house, made in a mixture of earth and straw. Jackson
her husband is 21 years old and studies in Nairobi.
If the main square of the village has many flies,
it is because they return with the cattle
during the night, and may remain
with the animal droppings, but
there are no flies in the huts!
The children are curious!
The procession starts with the groom and his brother
at the head
Yankiki follows at the speed of 500 meters per hour,
during this
her girlfriends try to distract her by saying to him that
there is still time to change his mind, that would be
enough to cancel the marriage. Thisprocession
was very merry with the smiling
faces of all the women who are
laughing during the procession.
At the speed to which she advances, it will take her
5 hours to join their new village, the new house
and even a new name " NAISOLA " which was
chosen for him by all inhabitants of his new village
Here is Naisola in his beautiful costume
on the way to meet his destiny !
Here awaits the " Mama " of his new village who comes
officially to welcome the groom
As well as the head of the village
The groom Jackson and his brother Samuel
Some portraits of the guests while the married couple
enter the village at the same speed as
the bride Naisola (14 years)
Here is the new home of Naisola and Jackson
And the " Mama " who officially accompanies Naisola
in her
new village and presents her new residence to her.
She takes possession and it is only now that the marriage
takes place.
Until this point Naisola had the choice to leave, but by
deciding to carry on into the interior of the hut, he
shows his will and his choice to be her husband.
More and more of the Masaï choose their
own husbands, although arranged
weddings still exist. And even if a
marriage is not arranged
one always negotiates
herds of cows
or money for
equipment.
click on the link, then select " to open "
(approximately 1 minute wait)
The men also sing and dance!
The festival is great !
And local alcohol runs in floods
Then we ate various breads and roasted beef,
pig and lamb. We also had a lot to drink (I took Coke, I must admit!). The
day
unfolded marvellously and I was sad when it was time to say good-bye to my
friends.
" Until next year! " I said to them !
(C) André Brunsperger October 1999
These photos are protected by copyright. The
author allows nevertheless
to copy them for a prived and family usage only, without any purpose or
commercial link. For another usage do not hesitate to ask the author.
