North African Masai Tribe
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A group of Masai children.
The Masai are very eager to welcome guests into their homes to show their lifestyle and culture, though they are under increasing pressure to conform to modern society. Like said in the Education section on the page before, the Masai are now having the western education incorporated into their lives, thus conforming. Many children and young Masai are questioning their traditional practices such as polygamy, early marriage, and female circumcision.
Some Masai worry that the change is coming too fast, and they are conforming far too soon.
"The foundation of our culture is respect and unity," says Oloiboni Ole Pareiyo, a 65-year-old herder. "What is happening with modernity is that it is undermining the very principle on which the culture is founded."
Others say the exact opposite; there is no way to survive but to conform to be able to adapt to the ever changing world. Journalist Michael Ole Tiampati is one of those people. Tiampati left his Masai village for one of Kenya's most competitive high schools, yet he also takes part in the traditional age-group ceremonies and says that becoming a respected elder is still his major life goal. Though, he sees this conformity as a good thing - he says,
"Enlightenment, not bombardment is what we need. The Masai need knowledge to manage the situation that is facing us. We know in the back of our mind that there is no escape. The noose is tightening."