The Maasai population in 1979 was 212,000,
however, in 2009, the population was 840,000. The Maasai are nomadic people
that live in southern Kenya, where most of the surrounding land is dry and
deserted. Because of harsh environment, social tradition, and war, the
population growth rate is much smaller compared to Kenya’s general population.
Since most of Maasai’s lands are deserted,
it is impossible for the Maasai to farm, this led to the traditional nomadic
pastoralism. The Maasai depend heavily on little water on land for them to
raise livestock; they often trade livestock for other resources with outsiders.
However, during the drought, lack of food and water could greatly reduce their
livestock. Shortages of food are a frequent problem, which led to malnutrition
and lack of trade. In addition, the Maasai often sleep in the same hut with
their livestock, which is unhygienic and often lead of many diseases such as
tuberculosis and malaria. With lack of food and water, plus the present of many
diseases, it was estimated that only 3 out of 8 children survive beyond 10
years of age.
Additionally, the Maasai’s strict social
traditions also lead to even lower birthrate. Young men must undergo a warrior
period of attaining enough cattle to gain the eligibility for marriage. On
average, most Maasai male marry at between 25-35 years of age; while the
average age of marriage for women is 17 or 18 years. Illicit sex is frowned
upon and girls could only have sex after marriage. However, polygyny is
considered to be normal and males in the same age could freely have sexual
intercourse with wives of their fellow males; these practices lead to the
spread of STD and infertility among the tribe.
References:
Sindiga I. Fertility control and population
growth among the Maasai. Human Ecology (USA) [serial online]. 1987;Available
from: AGRIS, Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 26, 2014.
Molnos, A. Cultural Source Materials for
Population Planning in East Africa (Vol. I).1972; East African Publishing
House, Nairobi. Accessed March 26, 2014.
Past To Present
ReplyDeleteThe Maasai are one of the East Africa’s last indigenous tribe that stills practices ancient rituals. Even with lack of food and water, and plenty of diseases, they remain as one of the most well-known tribe in Africa. The Maasai were economically isolated from the emerging modern economy and forced into ecologically poorer areas. Therefore, the Maasai could only rely on nomadic pastoralism.
Furthermore, their traditions suppressed the fertility rate.
With these conditions, I think the Maasai are survivalist. They were so isolated from the modern world that they only started to work outside of their tribe recently. However, some Maasai elders are willing to change and adapt to the modern world. Some started to lease their lands to foreign farmers while others open tourist attractions. Even so, with high infant death rate, most of the Maasai still keep their values and traditions even if it hinders their fertility rate.
How about comparing this reflection to something we have talked about in class, isolation, polygyny, outside influences, concepts used such as cultural relativism or ethnocentrism?
ReplyDeleteAlso, please look at the references from Carolina and Jeremy. They keep them somewhat consistent. Yours, seem to be online sources, but you are not consistent with their references or the AAA Style. Thanks