becomes clearer during the nineteenth century which saw increasing western encroachment into Kenya. This took the form of missionaries and explorers. The missionaries were keen to convert tribes to Christianity, halt slave trading and stop some of the Maasai practices which they perceived as barbaric (such as dressing almost naked and leaving their dead for wild animals to scavenge rather than having a burial ceremony). The explorers were less interested in tribal welfare and more interested in commerce
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plains. Arab traders began frequenting Kenya's coast during the first century AD. By 700 AD, Arab settlements had sprouted along the coastline, giving way to inter-marriages between the Arabs and the Bantu. This formed the beginning of the Swahili culture and language found in Kenya today. Arab dominance ended in 1498, when the Portuguese arrived and settled along Kenya's coast. It was during their stay that the Portuguese built the famous Fort Jesus in Mombasa in 1593. The Portuguese retained control
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One of the most well-preserved African cultures is that of the Maasai tribe, who have held on to their traditional way of life despite the widespread westernization and globalization of Africa. The culture of the Maasai tribe has become a popular tourist attraction, and is a symbol of overall Kenyan culture. It is believed that the Maasai tribe began in Northern Africa, and migrated south over several centuries. Along the way they attacked their neighbors, and would steal their cattle. By the end
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The quest to find who we really are is fuelled by a need to find a place in the world where we belong. A sense of belonging comes from a strong sense of identity. The novel My Maasai Life is about Robin Wiszowaty, a typical teenage girl from the suburbs of Chicago who embarks on a journey to Kenya to find her true self. Robin was dissatisfied with her life from a very young age, even though she grew up with access to malls and technology, she always felt as if something was missing. In search for
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Kenya and Tanzania The Masai people commonly written Maasai make up one of the numerous varied African tribes inhabiting most of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. In Kenya, they are located in three counties, specifically Samburu, Kajiado, and Narok. Smaller groups like the Njemps (Ilchamus) reside around Laikipia District and Lake Baringo. In Tanzania, the huge population inhabits Kiteto, Monduli, Ngorongoro, kilimanjaro and Longido. The Maasai (or Maa) natives are pastoralists fall under the plain
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of Maasai Warrior” Tepilit Ole Saitoti tells everyone her life for the massai is a series of conquest and tests involving the endurance of pain, which consist of cutting the front skin of the penis representing his responsibility and a big change from childhood to adulthood. When people read the story “The Initiation of Maasai Warrior” they start to notice how painful the rites of passage transformation between childhood to adulthood is for the Maasai people, another common culture has
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practice here in the United States, but laws prevent it from occurring here. In other cultures in other countries Female Genitalia Cutting is being performed to children as young as 5 years old. In Cultures like Maasai in Tanzania and Shendi in Sudan these procedures are being performed on children as young as three. Is this a form of mutilation? Or is it the right thing to do to a child? Growing up in these cultures they are taught that this is the right thing that must be done, to show that they
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of Maasai Warrior” Tepilit Ole Saitoti tells everyone her life for the massai is a series of conquest and tests involving the endurance of pain, which consist of cutting the front skin of the penis representing his responsibility and a big change from childhood to adulthood. When people read the story “The Initiation of Maasai Warrior” they start to notice how painful the rites of passage transformation between childhood to adulthood is for the Maasai people, another common culture has
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Jean Gathoni English 10 23/11/2015 Things Fall Apart vs. Kenya Many societies all over Africa have beliefs rooted deep in ancient religion. Some beliefs in those societies include, polygamy, polytheism, and patriarchy. One such culture that followed these were the nine Ibo-speaking villages of Umuofia. Umuofia is the village in which Okonkwo, prospers in everything to secure his manly post in the tribe. The role of each family member in Umuofia is much defined. The men are overly intimidating
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Native American culture, for example, would be not such an issue if they were respected for their individual identity instead of the material aspects of their culture. Some, like Alyssa Rosenberg of The Washington Post, believe that designers who only search for potential looks deserve criticism and should search for a deeper meaning behind the fashions. Simple accusations of cultural appropriation stop further questions about its causes and the effects that it has on the cultures in question (Rosenberg)
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