This is a group of Nilotic speaking people found on the North West Kenya. Due to there increase in population, some have also crossed over the Tanzania border and settled in the Serengeti. Traditionally, they are nomadic pastoralists and they move from place to place in search of water and pasture for there livestock. The livestock is mainly cows and goats. A man's worth is counted by how many cows he has. Today, there mode of living is changing due to lack of enough grazing fields. Most have embraced agriculture and trade as a means of livelihood.
In a Masaai community, the central unit of governance is the age set. An initiation ceremony did once every 15 years or so initiates one to the next level of manhood. Boys from a very early age are shown how to be able bodied men who protect there families and the community at large. They go through ritual beating as a way of testing for courage and endurance. Girls follow after there mothers and help around the house with the chores such as milking cows, coking, cleaning and looking after younger children.
For the Masaai, a person is only regarded once alive. The dead are thrown away to be eaten by scavengers. A body that is not eaten by the scavengers is deemed to bring a bad omen to the community. They therefore adorn the corpses with animal fat and blood to entice jackals and hyenas. Burial was only reserved for dignitaries such as the chief and Laibon. The Laibon was the people's prophet and the link to God, Engai. They are monotheistic.