TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE AMOMG THE MAASAI

 Traditional marriage is still common among the masai community  from the past up today
The Maasai community is renowned the world over for its culture. The Maasai culture is unique and very interesting and attracts many peoples, both locals and foreigners.
While some cultural practices have become outdated the iconic Maasai traditional wedding ceremony is one elaborate and culturally rich event that that is entertaining as well as intriguing. Maasai traditional wedding has become increasingly popular not just in Kenya but beyond and a lot has been borrowed from the rite and incorporated into the so called modern wedding.
Maasai traditional weddings are full of colour, song and dance. Most people in Maasai practiced traditional weddings and that was the only form of marriage they knew. brace modernity. Marriage rites are still observed.
The village elder, who has married five wives in Maasai traditional weddings, says the day before the wedding the husband to be (groom) and best man bring the last of the pre-agreed dowry to the girl’s family. This is normally a combination of livestock, cash, blankets and honey. The dowry is a symbol of appreciation to the encouraged each  generation .They also encourage her to be a good wife to her husband and teach her all about womanhood or wifely responsibilities and impress upon her to give her husband many children.  The girl would then be smeared with red ochre (made from soil) as a sign of blessings and symbolise a new beginning in her life.The mode of dressing during the Maasai traditional weddings is also specific. A bride traditionally wears a special necklace made by her mother. It is made of beads and cowrie shells. Each part has a symbolic meaning. Red beads, for example, symbolise power and unity. The bride also wears a red dress and on top she has to wear a beaded cow skin. She also wears the Maasai jewelry around her neck, head, ankles and hand bracelet.
Beads and shells are set in several rows. The number of rows signifies the economic wealth of the father which is counted in terms of cows and wives. Strings attached to the main part of the necklace represent the number of livestock the bride’s family received for her dowry. The groom wears a simple Maasai ‘shuka’ covered with a beaded cow skin on top. He also wears some beads on his ankles and a beaded head wrap.

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