The Maasai: Their Land, Their Heritage

A Maasai woman in beautiful bead work. Image credit: William Warby, Flickr.

One of the most infamous examples of tourism negatively impacting a culture, the animals, and the environment can be found in the plights of the Maasai people of Kenya and Northern Tanzania.

The Maasai are in a sticky situation. Their homeland, particularly the famous Mara wildlife reserve, has become a massive tourist attraction. This fact, in combination with the removal of their people from their native lands by the government so as to protect the natural wilderness, has led to a great deal of problems for the Maasai way of life. Funny enough, their forced exodus has caused a great deal of problems for the natural wilderness they once cared for.

Sunset at the Mara Wildlife Reserve. Image credit: Sankara Subramanian, Flickr.

The Maasai would live at one with the land on which they herded animals as functioning part of the ecosystem, only taking meat when they needed and fostering growth. In the Ngorongoro crater, they would even often burn the grasses to replenish the soil nutrients. This practice figured into why they were removed as well. Ironically enough, the government began creating fires again once it was rediscovered to be beneficial, while the Maasai had been doing it out of deep connection and understanding of their own land for decades.

Wildebeest crossing the Mara River. Image Credit: Lip Kee, Flickr.

On a cultural level, the Maasai are also experiencing a discrepancy between who they were and who many of them have had to become to survive. Due to the fact that they have lost living rights to much of their original domain, in conjunction with the influx of tourists who come to see the great Mara river crossing or a pride of lions, many have turned fully to the tourism industry. There are villages on the edge of the Mara that cater to tourists and sell them goods. Shows are put on for tourists. Traditional meals are cooked for tourists. The question is: is this a bad thing?

Although this new industry has created fresh business opportunities for such a unique and rich people, who tourists travel in throngs to see, it has also contributed to a loss of time-worn tribal community and a more traditional way of life. They are slowly assimilating the outside world, as many tribal peoples have been forced to in the past. Many are even leaving the villages to seek out opportunities in other areas. This phenomenon is called "Brain Drain."

So how can the average tourist contribute to the restoration of the Maasai's pride and ancestral integrity? The answer is simple, even if the problem is complex. Contribute your money to causes that matter, such as the Maasai association:

http://www.maasai-association.org/help.html

While you are visiting, ask about volunteerism opportunities or helping out on projects that benefit the locals. Check out our blog's articles on free trade goods and benefiting communities for more advice.

A Maasai warrior jumping. Image credit: Javier Carcamo, Flickr.