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KENYA: The country of the Maasai | 10 INTERESTING FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT IT
We all know that Kenya is the country of the Masai, of the famous marathon runners of the Olympic Games or of the Masai Mara National Reserve. But in this video, you are going to learn about some of interesting, informative, and sometimes little-known facts about Kenya.
Located in southwestern Kenya, covering an area of 1,510 km² (583 square miles), the Masai Mara National Reserve is a land of breathtaking views, abundant wildlife and endless plains. The quintessential Masai Mara safari offers many attractions, as the reserve is home to an excellent concentration of game year round, including over two million wildebeest, zebras and other antelopes that make up the famous Great Migration.
The reserve is a photographer's and naturalist's paradise, with numerous elephants, buffalos, giraffes, lions and cheetahs alongside migrating wildebeest and zebras. Leopards are frequently encountered, endangered black rhinos lurk in the dense thickets, and large rafts of hippos and huge crocodiles can be found in the Mara River. The park is also home to over 450 species of birds. So it's no surprise that tourists from all over the world travel here, not least because the reserve has been voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Regarding the origin of the name, the word 'Masai' comes from the Maasai tribe, nomadic inhabitants of the region and the word 'Mara' is their word for 'stained', referring to the acacias, shrubs and bushes at the top. ubiquitous dish that dot the landscape over most of the reserve. The Masai Mara now also includes a number of conservatories and collective ranches lining the main reserve and is home to some of the most diverse species of African wildlife.
The Maasai Shuka is a traditional fabric native to East Africa, worn by the Maasai people, mainly Kenya and Tanzania. Shuka Masai is a cotton plaid fabric, blanket form, in bright red and blue colors. The Maasai are a semi-nomadic people of East Africa who are known for their unique way of life, as well as their cultural traditions and customs.
The Maasai live in the great Rift valleys of Kenya and Tanzania. They are renowned as great warriors who hunt for food in the wild savannah. For their clothes, red is the most common color. But, the Maasai also use blue, striped, to wrap their bodies. Masai men and women wear the traditional Shuka dress. It is known to be durable, strong, and thick. This fabric protects the Maasai against the weather and the terrain of the savannah. Many designers have been inspired by Shuka Masai to make original clothes in bright colors. We can first mention the Nigerian brand Blackbird Jeans which made a collection with this traditional fabric in 2011. Then, in 2012, the famous Louis Vuitton brand created a Spring / Summer collection. The artistic director Kim Jones wanted to pay tribute to his childhood spent in Kenya. Finally, the Kenyan clothing brand Wan Fam Clothing made clothes and accessories from the Shuka fabric. They are located in Nairobi and this brand was created by brothers Jeff and Emmanuel Wanjala to pay tribute to the Maasai culture of Kenya. They transform this traditional garment into trendy urban chic clothing.
In Kenya, polygamy is common and even some wives, especially those without children, readily encourage their husbands to take another wife. It was in 2014 when a new law came into force in Kenya, allowing a man to marry as many women as he wanted. And a prominent group of women applauded him with joy.
It was President Uhuru Kenyatta himself who signed the polygamy measure, officially recognizing what has long been a cultural practice in the country. Parliament passed the bill in March 2014 despite protests from lawmakers who angrily left the late-night session at the time. The bill initially gave the first wife the right to veto the husband's choice of additional wives. Male MPs succeeded in knocking down this clause.
Some Kenyans have derisively suggested that lawmakers also consider polyandry, a practice that allows wives to take on multiple husbands. Others have speculated that lawmakers may also legalize beating women in the future. According to Al-Jazeera, Although it is difficult to find studies on the impact of polygamy on families in Kenya, at the international level there is growing evidence showing that polygamy affects children and wives, economically, socially and psychologically.
Over 60 different languages are indigenous to Kenya. The official languages are English, which is widely spoken at a high level in the tourism industry, and Kiswahili, an "East African lingua franca" that originated from the coast and has spread inland. along trade routes in the early 19th century. The other main languages are Kikuyu, Luo, Akamba and Maa.
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Published Sep 18, 2023
