How do the Maasai make their clothes?

How do the Maasai make their clothes?

In the past, shepherds used cloaks or capes made of cattle skins (steers, cows, etc.) and women used capes made of sheepskin. The Masai decorated these capes with glass beads that they also used for their crafts and ornaments.

Why do Maasai wear blue?

The Maasai community believes that raising these cattle was a heaven-sent gift, and that the cattle were brought from the sky by God. Therefore, BLUE represents the sky that provides the water and rain for the cows which are an important source of food.

What traditional clothing is worn in Kenya?

Known as the Kenyan cloak, the design features an ankle-length robe and long cloak for women, while men wear a shirt with a slashed collar and a cape across one shoulder. Both costumes come in the colours of the flag: red, green and black.

Are the Maasai nomadic?

The pastoral Maasai are fully nomadic, wandering in bands throughout the year and subsisting almost entirely on the meat, blood, and milk of their herds.

What are Maasai beads?

Initially, Maasai women used dried grass, sticks, clay, seeds, and shells as materials to make the traditional ornaments. Over time, they began using attractive beads made of plastic and glass that they obtained from other communities through trade.

Why do the Maasai drink cow blood?

The Maasai, an ethnic group of semi-nomadic people who inhabit in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, drink cow blood on special occasions – circumcision of a child, the birth of a baby and on the occasion of a girl’s marriage. It also is given to drunken elders to alleviate intoxication and hangover.

What do Maasai beads symbolize?

The beadwork embodies the Maasai culture, representing beauty, tradition, strength, and sometimes even social status. “Women met up in groups and beaded jewellery worn by both men and women during different events and occasions,” Nashilu shares. “Beads are a symbol of beauty.”