Gathering cow dung in the morning
Using a mixture of cow dung and water to repair a traditional house.
Throwing a spear during our wood gathering exercise!
The boys jumping during the dancing ceremony
Today our class visited a Maasai village, and we spent the day participating in a variety of activities related to Maasai culture. Arriving around 9 in the morning, our first task had to do with the construction and maintenance of traditional houses. The Maasai people are pastoralists, meaning that for thousands of years their lives and livelihoods have revolved around the keeping of cattle. By the time we got there, the cattle had been let out of their enclosure to graze for the day, and it was our job to collect their dung in order to repair some of the buildings in the village. After collecting only the freshest poop with our bare hands, we mixed it with a little bit of water and set to work on the houses. Using our palms, we smeared it on the sides of several buildings to create a new layer of wall that would soon be dried by the sun overhead. It was dirty work, but it was fascinating to see how even the feces of a cow could be used for such a productive purpose.
Our second activity consisted of gathering wood from the bush for two purposes. First, we chopped down some acacia tree branches, known for their long and sharp thorns. These branches were then dragged to the perimeter wall of the village and stacked on top to create a spiny barrier made from all-natural materials. Inside this barrier wall there was another enclosure with taller walls in which the cows were kept, for extra protection from predators. After collecting wood for the fence, we then helped to collect and chop firewood that would later be used for cooking. While we didn’t get to experience any of the cooking itself, we did learn how to start a fire using only friction between multiple pieces of wood.
Our third activity was a long walk to fetch water, taking around 20 minutes. What was incredible to me was that the water we retrieved was not even clean enough for drinking, and would just be used for doing laundry and giving to animals. We were told that to get drinking water, Maasai women would often need to walk 20-40 kilometers, often with herds of donkeys to be used as pack animals. It was a humbling experience that allowed me to reflect on how much I take drinking water for granted. Even back at our base camp, the water that comes out of our faucets is clean enough to drink, and I could never imagine walking such distances just to get water that is potable. After our walk, we sat with the Maasai women to make beaded bracelets, before heading back to the main area of the village.
Our last experience of the day was a performance of traditional song and dance, put on by many of the village members. We got to watch and participate in a variety of different dances, which involved lots of jumping by the men involved. It was a great way to round out our experience with the Maasai, ending on an upbeat note and celebrating their rich culture. Today’s experience helped me to appreciate ancient tradition, and made me reflect on the things in life that I take for granted, which I believe is very important. Thank you very much for reading, and stay posted for more coming soon!