The speakers of the Maa dialect are called Maasai. The Massai form an ethnic group that strides the border of Kenya and Northern Tanzania in East Africa. They are predominantly pastoralists and farmers.
Marriage tradition and custom are core traditional activities among the Massai. A man is expected to be married as soon as he undergoes the circumcision ritual.
After graduating from the warrior stage to that of junior elder, marriage becomes the priority of the new elder who is now in his late twenties.
Historically Maasai women are considered eligible for marriage in their teens (13-20) after recovering from their female circumcision, a practice which is now illegal in Kenya and is less antiquated practised now than even a decade ago.
Marriage begins to take shape through a marriage proposal from the bridegroom’s family. The marriage proposal is officially presented by a visit to the brides home. The parents of the bridegroom visit the home of the proposed bride.
Sometimes this is done without the knowledge of both the bride and bridegroom. The parents discuss the possibility of marriage between the young people from the two families.
Sometimes, the bride is booked by the bridegroom’s parents before any negotiation is done. Also in a few cases, a bride can be booked at the time of birth when she is still an infant or even during pregnancy with the hope that the child will be a female.
When a marriage proposal has been made, no immediate response is given until the elders have had a chance to discuss the proposal. Elders as ritual leaders have to be consulted to seek the will of the ancestors.
If the marriage proposal is accepted by the bride’s family, negotiation will commence. They revolve around the suitability of the marriage for the two families and the marriage gifts to be given. The gifts include livestock, honey, tobacco, and blankets.
After the payment of the dowry, the day of the wedding is marked by feasting, singing and dancing. The wedding is preceded by several traditional activities and rituals.
One of these includes the splashing of milk on the bride and bridegroom, which signifies blessing on the newly married couples.
In addition, the bride and bridegroom undergo ritual shaving during the wedding procession. The shaving is meant to signify a new beginning as husband and wife.
The bride and groom during the marriage procession are blessed and washed with milk and grass is tied onto their shoes and clothes. Then, the couple and the bride’s family share a ceremonial honey beer, made from the suitor’s bride price gift of honey.
During the wedding procession which is the final day of the Massai girl in her father’s house, blessing by the elders takes place.
These are blessings to wish are well in her new home by the elders belonging to her father age-grade, and blessing to welcome her in her husband home, administered by the age-grade members of her father-in-law.
More importantly, a necklace is given to the bride by the bridegroom which signifies that she is now married. The necklace is called “Enrakewa”.
Once all the procession is over, the bride, groom, and the best man begin their trek to the groom’s family home where they will reside.
When they reach the bridegroom’s home a big ceremony is conducted by the elders to welcome the couple to their home.
When she arrives at this village she is given a baby or young child to hold to symbolize the children that she will have, in addition, she is also given a new name by the bridegroom’s family.
Marriage is a major transforming ceremony with a deep cultural and spiritual undertone for the Massai.
It is not limited to the unionism of a man and woman but is viewed as a community activity that involves all members, those who are currently physically living in the community, and the ancestors.
