Sopa = hello in Masaï
Olé séré = Bye bye

Do you want to listen to the young women singing ?

 The village which I will describe is located in the "Loita plains"
Sanctuary of Masaï Mara beside " kilometer five " of Mara Paradise and
Mara Buffalo, coming on track C13 from Narok towards Lolgorien. Altitude
is 1500 meters on average, temperature is a very pleasant 28°C during the
day most of the year and 15 to 20° at night in summer (December to February)
but perhaps 5 to -5°C during the winter (June to August). The season of big rains
is " normally " from April 15 to June 15 and the small rains come during November
15 to December 15. Apart from the places where the animals are, and where they
leave their droppings, there are almost no flies or mosquitos. With regard to
vaccinations, I was inoculated against yellow fever, which is really necessary
necessary, and obligatory, but I take nothing else. To combat the flies
I take along insect repellant, one for fabrics, and another for skin.

Aerial photograph of the village (after the rains)

The Masaï Wedding

The Masaï people is happy
Masaïs live in small villages and have large
herds of cows which provide them with milk and meat. They live very simply
and are able to keep very clean considering the difficulties they face in find water
(the women must walk many kilometers each week to fetch water).
It is obvious that they are a very happy and contented people.

Amongst the Masaï people, marriage is a great festival, and all the village is invited.
Muzungou (white people) are only very seldom invited (due to superstition) and I must
say that I felt very privileged to have been asked to attend

On the left is Samuel the brother of the groom, and all the children who are ready for
the event. It is 7am. In the center, Jackson the groom and his brother are ready for
the procession. Yankiki the future bride who is 14 years old, is hidden under covers
outside the village, because she is not allowed to look to the side nor behind.

On the right-hand photograph, it is now at the entrance to the village, the covers
are removed and everyone walks very slowly - one small step every 2 seconds.

This rate of 500 meters per hour continues without speeding up.
They walk as slowly as possible towards her new life of a married
woman without speaking a word. They continue on the path from
where they were an engaged couple, which takes them along
towards their new village, (3 kilometers) and towards their
new house, made in a mixture of earth and straw. Jackson
her husband is 21 years old and studies in Nairobi.
If the main square of the village has many flies,
it is because they return with the cattle
during the night, and may remain
with the animal droppings, but
there are no flies in the huts!.

Yankiki follows at the speed of 500 meters per hour, during this
her girlfriends try to distract her by saying to him that
there is still time to change his mind, that would be
enough to cancel the marriage. Thisprocession
was very merry with the smiling faces
of all the women who are laughing
during the procession At the speed
to which she advances, it will take
her 5 hours to join their new village
the new house and even a new name
" NAISOLA " which was chosen for him by
all inhabitants of his new village.

Here is Naisola in his beautiful costume
on the way to meet his destiny !

And the " Mama " who officially accompanies Naisola in her
new village and presents her new residence to her.

She takes possession and it is only now that the marriage takes place.
Until this point Naisola had the choice to leave, but by deciding to carry
on into the interior of the hut, he shows his will and his choice
to be her husband. More and more of the Masaï choose
their own husbands, although arranged weddings still
exist. And even if a marriage is not arranged one
always negotiates herds of cows or
money for equipment.

It is the festival at the village

The women dance and sing and everyone is happy.

The men also !!

And local alcohol runs in floods !!

Then we ate various breads and roasted beef, pig and lamb.
We also had a lot to drink (I took Coke, I must admit!).
The day unfolded marvellously and I was sad when
it was time to say good-bye to my friends.

" Until next year! " I said to them !

(C) André Brunsperger October 1999