The Modern Maasai

The first time I ever heard of the Maasai people was a few years back when Caleb Bislow started bringing the Gospel to some of the unreached Maasai tribes in Kenya. The Maasai are most often associated with Kenya, although, as I recently found out, they also have a large population in Tanzania.

Traditionally, the Maasai, a nomadic people group, are known as great warriors. In fact, the historical rite of passage into manhood for a young Maasai boy was that he had to go into the wild, with only his spear, and kill a lion. Only then was he circumcised and considered a man.

Well, I ran into quite a few Maasai in Tanzania, but these Maasai weren't what I expected!

An old Maasai man walking through the small town of Mlandizi. Many Maasai are now migrating into towns to find work. Notice his stretched earlobes, a common body modification among the Maasai.

I found this Maasai "warrior" dominating the pool table at a local bar, where they were betting on their games. Notice he still wears a traditional Maasai kikoi.

This young Maasai man is now a believer, and he's studying at the Mission to Unreached Areas Church (MUAC) training center to become a missionary. He let me wear his shuka, the most common dress of the Maasai people.