Natural Waist Length Kenyan Hair - How The Maasai And Samburu Warriors Style Their Hair
- Posted on 26 June, 2021
- Hair Care
- By Anonymous
Episode 3 is all about KENYA In this video, I show you the beauty of the Samburu and Maasai people and explain how a man's hairstyle changes as he progresses through the five major rites of passage - Emurrata (circumcision ceremony), Emanyatta (warrior initiation ceremony), Enkange ekule (wedding/milk-drinking ceremony), Eunoto (senior warrior initiation) and Olng'esherr (junior eldership).
Here is a link to all the videos I used to make this episode (plus some more): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=...
Here is a link to a pdf of a journal I found incredibly informative: http://www.jiarm.com/Mar2014/paper1129...
As always, thank you for watching! Comment which country/ethnic group you want me to do next :)
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Title: Natural WAIST LENGTH Kenyan Hair - How the Maasai and Samburu Warriors Style Their Hair
Foreign, my also known as the butterfly people are a flamboyant group of people living in north central kenya. The samburu are closely related to the maasai and language and many aspects of their culture. The maasai who you may recognize by their red clothing or jumping dance, live mainly in central and southern kenya and northern tanzania. Both the samburu and maasai are nailic, but the samburu are considered to be more traditional than the mansai. Now, let's start from childhood and discuss how the hairstyle of a young boy changes with age when a masai boy reaches 3 years old, his head is shaved. Apart from a tuft at the very top of the head, this tuft resembles the comb of a rooster which symbolizes grace between the ages of 12 and 25. A maasai boy undergoes his first rite of passage. The circumcision ceremony this ceremony called imorata is the ultimate test of a boy's worthiness to become a warrior for maasai boys. This ceremony only takes place once every 14 years. Zamburu males are between 14 and 15 when they participate. One part of the ceremony is to get your head shaved a razor some herbs and some milk are used to achieve this. The hair is collected in one place and is not supposed to fall on the ground to avoid a curse. The second ceremony is the warrior initiation ceremony. Once the boys have healed, they enter a special camp called manyatop where they train to become morans. Moran is just another name for warrior. A masai male will stay in this camp for 10 years. A zamburu male will stay in this camp for seven to ten years. At this time they are junior warriors hair is the most prestigious symbol of moran's status. A moran's hair is a source of strength, courage and masculinity. Many hours are spent by the warriors braiding each other's hair. Like many of the other groups, i've highlighted on my channel the moran use red ochre to style their hair, and this ochre is typically mixed with sheep or cow fat and applied to the hair and sometimes the face and the rest of the body. Morans are incredibly skilled in hairdressing, while in the manata camp zamburu and maasai morans learn how to weave hair into thin braids, assemble moran's hair is all natural. The goal of nearly all moran is to grow hair long enough to fall when braided to the middle of the back or below. In this clip, three maasai males are working together to braid the hair of a fellow masai moran. They are adding jewels and some red cotton string to decorate the hair if a moran has hairpins braided into his hair. That means that he has killed a lion, and that brings him and his family a lot of pride after 10 years as a junior warrior, the zamburu or maasai man progresses onto the next stage of life to become a senior warrior. This ceremony is known as the eu noto ceremony during this ceremony, the moran's mother shaves off all of his hair. This moment is quite an emotional one for the warrior, as he must lose all the hair that he worked so hard to grow. At this point in their life, the men are allowed to marry and have children. The shaving marks the transition from a carefree lifestyle to a more mature and responsible one. After a few months, the senior warrior gets married and a wedding ceremony, also known as a milk drinking ceremony, is held. This ceremony is the first time that the moran is permitted to eat in the company of others. The now married warrior is able to go back to his mother's hut for the first time since becoming a moran morans, spend time in the bush decorating themselves with feather head adornments, which can be taken from a foul or a wild bird like an eagle now, let's Briefly, talk about the women and how they wear their hair, married maasai, women generally shave off all of their hair, married zamburu, women wear a round hat and shave around it to make a circular hairline. This style is known as coop when the head of a household dies, all of his wives, children, brothers, sisters and parents, excluding any morans in the family must shape their hair if the miranda dies. All members of his age group must shave their hair in respect of his death after 10 years of being a senior warrior, the maasai or sampuru med progresses onto the fifth and final stage of life becoming a junior elder. This ceremony is known as o lingasher at this point. In his life, the moran is somewhere in his 30s or 40s. The man is honored. With an elder's chair and while sitting on his new chair, he receives a final head. Shave from his wife elders shave their hair because they must be less flamboyant as decision makers at this age, the zamburu or maasai man takes full responsibility of his own family and moves away from his father's homestead bye.
Comments
benjamin cunningham: These people are naturally beautiful
Doctor Feline: I'm from Africa but born & raised in the U.S and I'm always telling my American black friends the emotional ties that they have with hair is something that's from The motherland, that it's embedded deep within their soul and I love seeing videos like this which help bring affirmation
Lalina: It's interesting how women have short hair and men have long hair. It's a different way of doing things. Love this series.
mibaraka: I live in the Maasai community and they take their traditions seriously with pride.
KitKatAvie: Can’t get over how stunning some of these men are. Not your basic definition of handsome but just incredibly beautiful, especially their hair. Such a beautiful culture
Lemmy Simel: I am a modern Maasai man, but very in touch with my culture and the old way of life. This is true for most of my contemporaries too. We do 9-5 jobs in the city, and on weekends we are on the plains in red shukas herding our livestock. Thanks for this great and informative video, the accuracy is on point
IntrospectiveR: This was not only educational but well-paced and entertaining. Thank you!
richard njau waithaka: i am a Kenyan, from a tribe called Kikuyu. Kikuyus and Maasais have a long and shared history. they have intermarried and traded culture a lot. for example my maternal grandmother is from the maasai tribe. the maasai are misunderstood as very fearsome and dangerous people but this is false. they are very friendly and accommodative. they just want respect of their culture and heritage. Magical Kenya. Maasais have different clans the majority live in Kenya and some in Tanzania. Samburus are considered (by other tribes) as a clan of the Maasai tribe but there is some dispute among themselves. if you want to know more about these people. visit Kenya and/or Tanzania and get more info. Ciao
Broadway Baby: as a Kanaka Maoli (Indigenous Hawaiian), it makes me so happy to learn about other Indigenous folks and the preservation of their traditions. It was cool seeing the little wedding clip too, how the bride and bridesmaids incorporated traditional wear with their dresses... stunning!! I have cuzzins on turtle island and there are some similarities their cultures share with hair and the beadwork. we are really all so similar, I wish more people would understand that.
merlinsreturn: I visited the Masai in Kenya. I was really excited to meet them in person (finally). I was very disappointed to find out that they practice FGM. Sometimes we only talk about one side of a culture. I think a more balanced discussion needs to take place.
youknowyoulikeit1000: I like how the men are guided throughout their lives.❤️ it’s totally different here
Raven Hill: Beautiful skin, beautiful teeth, beautiful hair, beautiful traditions, MY GOODNESS. Beauty everywhere!! Thank you for this informative coverage!!
quaysha1: I need to schedule an appointment to get my hair braided by those men.
rrbpo2022: Just beautiful cultures like this should be protected and preserved
•Emily and hecker the sogya and floppa•: I found this series towards the end of last year, and with it being Black history month now, I had to come back to watch and share with my family. Thank you so much for making these!
Hollywood Best Braids: Hope we never loose this to modern world
Wantor-Yesu Liamngee: Ahh, as an African female, this video has made me fall in love with the African male and appreciate the roles we (male and female) play in each other's life, we need this, we need each other. Preserve Africa!!! Please Africa, this is a wake up call, sons and daughters of Africa, arise, preserve and keep, and pass on the barton, I love all African males and African females. God bless, preserve and multiply us till we fill the earth.
GK 658: This was so cool, colonialism really tainted what’s seen as “‘masculine” , this makes me think of ceremonies in my own culture and how we hold hair in high regard. I’m cree form Canada, this was really cool to watch ! ❤️
Emiru Zaiikawa: This is fascinating, tbh. The way the men get their hair stylised is almost like a textile making procedure. In fact, it's like a whole artistic/ artisanal genre on its own.
Teja A: Hair is such an essential part of their life, its an emotion for them. Thank you for sharing :)
Faith Njogu: I'm 9 months late but thank you for featuring my country. Proudly Kenyan.
Kimberly Dunn: Such a dedicated culture, very interesting but shows how united and respectful and dedicated to their culture. Seems like a unified people where nobody gets left out. Very beautiful..loved the little baby with the cute curly hair.
Yas~min: What a journey! It needs great commitment and it helps bringing everyone together. Much love to them from Tunisia in Northern Africa..
Moriah Sanchez: I'm so proud to say that they are my people. When I found out my grandmother is from this tribe and I researched I think I fell in love with myself all over again. Love this video so much. The high jumping lion killers! ❤️✊
pixie: this makes me wish i were more in touch with my own native culture. it’s so naturally beautiful, lively and colorful. so lovely.
sand mors: I'm so glad you are doing these videos on different ethnic groups of Africa. I watched a channel by a so called African group that focused only on the Arabized Touareg people and never once focused on the original, indigenous dark skinned ones. So many people complained about it. Keep up the good work sis!
Lilmisscostumedrama: Stunning body adornments! These people look like the absolute embodiment of health, strong community and a sense of tradition. Thank You so much for these informative videos.
MyPhoenix62: I love watching history of how ppL's styles have evolved as well as the way each hairstyle has made its way to the USA. I love watching! Thank you for sharing!
mia_papaya: These people look so healthy, strong and beautiful! Not to mention happy, such a beautiful culture
PantoponRose Goatoe: Im from the US. I have always been fascinated with these beautiful people. Before the internet, when I was a kid, my grandmother gave me a book about this tribe. I’m thankful for the internet to be able to learn more about their culture!
zoe cunningham: This is such an amazing view into their lives! I think it's so cool to see men tending to each other's hair
Original everything else is carbon copy: Wow. I love this. Not just the hair. But the traditions, the rites of passage etc
Amaionnaise: such a beautiful culture! Thank you for sharing this with us
As I AM: Beautiful people and cultures
Jenana: I love that throughout time, people have maintained an important relationship with their hair. Different cultures have different practices but its amazing to see how important and symbolic hair is. I'm actually working on growing my hair as long as I can possibly get it without having complications.
Lucy Jackson: I wish modern life had a similar aspect of community and sharing. Seems like modern life is so focused on individuality and single families, not a large group of people sharing life’s duties and caring for one another outside of what modern life traditionally requires. Thank you for this insightful video!
K K: The progression responsibility is desperately needed everywhere. So brilliant & necessary
J’Nisha G: I love African culture. So, full of respect and morals. I wish I connected more with the African culture. American men don’t ever learn to be a man. The life span is from a child to a teenage dummy onto a irresponsible grown man.
Sabre: One of my favorite cultures I've learned of. They have such an eye for fashion just naturally using nature. Truly talented and beautiful.
TheRalexm: This was so well done and a joy to watch. Thank you so much for sharing these incredible traditions with the world..so beautiful! our society would be better off if we implemented aspects of this culture...keep sharing!
Karina Pique: What beautiful people, with a beautiful history and tradition. I have never seen such beautiful tiny braids before. I love to learn about different people and their traditions and their history because we can always learn something from them. Keep your beauty showing ♀️♀️
Lithigos: I was in awe of how beautiful and joyful they all looked. Thanks for sharing other cultures with the internet.
N.M: Proud to be African
Non-applicabile Non-applicabile: I love seeing content like this! It truly is amazing. Keep sharing content like this please <3
Nina Erasmus: Loved learning about this! Always wondered if there was a way to get a natural braided hair. there is so much beauty in the variation of behaviour in humans. Thank you for the content!
Curiously T: You know it’s strange how they work so hard and spend countless hours on their hair only to have to shave it when getting married and leave behind a care free life but in terms of just hair, they actually went from hard work keeping it up and maintaining it to shaving it all off and now it’s a care free style where all they gotta do is get a hair cut or shave and a wash from time to time as an adult married man instead of the rigorous maintenance of the long hair. I guess it’s like yin and yang. Young care free but work hard on your hair them get married and have all the responsibilities of adult manhood but no more hair responsibilities. Dose makes sense to shave it and part ways with that the responsibilities of the hair for responsibilities of manhood and a family. To do both would be a bit much I would imagine.
T J: Thanks so much for the history lesson about these incredibly beautiful people . I have learnt a lot today
Glob of Wob: It always intrigued me how much African people could customize their hair, very cool
B Balderston: Speechless, amazing people and culture. World treasure, I hope they can stay authentic.
sthpac69: The warrior at 2:56 is an oil painting on my wall right now. I went to an art show at a friend's house in 1991 and bought a picture of this person on canvas for $95.00, wow. The company was called Artistic Impression inc with the certification number. I was sold on this picture as soon as I saw it because it reminded me of how I was feeling then and now, like a warrior with all I have been through.
LA TESHIA HENDERSON: Those beautiful people. I love how their lives go through these rituals very life changing.
Claudia Deuchars: My dream holiday is one day I could go to Kenya and meet those warriors, love from Brazil my brothers ❤️
𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒏𝒂: This has to be the tribe that inspired avatar..The sounds, the warm feeling, the elaborate decorations, THE SACREDNESS OF THE HAIR....Amazing tradition
Julia Aguirre: Once again this was so fascinating, keep them coming :)
CW: This is one of the best documentaries on the fashion & culture of a race I have seen. So well done and informative, thank you.
J T: Such an amazing culture. I remember touching on the Maasai a little in my Anthropology class in college. I'd love to learn more about the other tribes and cultures of Africa and the world. So far I just have my associates in anthropology, can't wait to see what my bachelor's brings & I REALLY hope one day to visit some of these places & meet these people in person. The entire reason I chose this major.
Baizhu waiting room: Wow, everything about those people is pretty. The faces, the hair, the traditional clothes and jewellery and the face paint
Rose Siddiqi: Absolutely beautiful culture, they live their lives in such a spiritual way & their fashion is truly works of art
Alucus: Wonderful and fascinating way of living. Not to mention that their look and style is amazingly beautiful. Their hair is absolutely stunning, especially with the red running through it.
loveisakaleidoscope: Wow! This is a very interesting video. It really shows how the symbolism of hair really varies in cultures when it comes to gender, care and sacredness. Here, the length and style of hair seem to be the opposite of most of the western world, where women typically have long hair and men have short.
a_doro_ble: These men are so stunning! Not just handsome but incredible beautiful! I seriously fell in love with some of them and their hair and style. Gosh, wish I could meet a partner like this.
Gaia Carney: EthioBelle - Thank You for creating & sharing this amazing information ✨ There IS indeed beauty in our roots!
Gerarda Cronin: That’s absolutely fascinating! These gentlemen are so well groomed.
l170ka: they look so gorgeous oh my.. what a beautiful tradition
Cyndi Rankin-Lemons: I love learning about new cultures, and your information was presented well and clearly. Please make more pieces like this. Thank you so much
Dzhevrie Kurtnebieva: Their culture is so beautiful
Winifred Chisholm: It's good to be natural beauty and letting your hair grow
D33 K4Y: thank you for making this video and educating people! it is so interesting to learn about all the different cultures out there. people are beautiful in their diversity
Manon Ferrari: They are gorgeous ❤️ thank you so much for educating us!
Caroll: So beautiful! ☺️ this shows how gender expression really do vary by culture.
T Hall: I’m learning so much about our beautiful rich history and traditions from your channel. Thank you so much for sharing OUR stories!
MORGORINO: This is the type of things we need to be teaching in school. Ive never heard of them or their culture and it didn’t take weeks to learn. Just mins. Imagine if teachers took time to do that
Faith Simaloi: Proud of my people ,my tribe ,our beauty is forever unmatched.Just to mention the most beautiful and fascinating culture am in love with it .
vortexy: Thank you. Looking forward to hear about all the lengthy ways women are brought out to support the many ways of celebrating and teaching young women how amazing they are.
Sophie Akot: So braiding hair is so much an African thing. Beautiful samburu, Masaijust like exactly like the Karimojongs in Uganda. Actually shaving hair when a family members passes on cuts across many African cultures. Beautiful Africa
Jerry R: Awesome! They seem to be masters of living in the moment and being happy. Family and friends matter!
Red Lady: What a beautiful and proud culture ❤️
Jenniefer Boyce: Beautiful.i am happy to learn about this rich heritage. We here in the caribbean are not taught about our african people
Angel Baby: I cannot thank you enough for sharing this about our beautiful history.
olivia: i had the privilege to spend a lot of time with 2 maasai elders on a humanitarian trip, and they are still some of the most respectful wise men i have ever met. And damn they smoked us at card games
Jessica Stuart: Thank you for sharing. It's so interesting to see how others live. What great culture they have, and such beautiful people!
Veronica: Those intricate braids and hairstyles are both beautiful and scream tradition. The complexity of when the different styles are present and on which people is outstanding and super cool to learn about! I like to learn about other cultures aside from my own, so I was so happy when this video came up! I myself am Germanic, and I know my ancient ancestors lived in tribes and had their hair connected to their culture, too! Men would grow out their hair, and women would too. Many wore “hair rings” or “hair beads”. They also wore Norse/Germanic braids. I like seeing other cultures who also respect their hair. ❤️
Misty Norman: I am in awe, they are so profoundly beautiful
Sliver Halo: Absolutely amazing! Its so cool to learn and understand black roots!
Vodkarage: I find it interesting how similar tribes through out the world are. They all used paint, hair, tests of strength, combat, and other things. The variation seems to primarily come from the environment they come from, such as woods vs dessert, cold vs warm, and so on.
Pazi Dawson: Amazing! Thank you for this beautiful, educating, and interesting video!
Cee Jo: Thanks for the very informational video. Growing up we were led to believe that the men kept their hair long all their lives. It’s interesting to see that long hair is a sign of emerging/young adulthood. Very beautiful.
Madame Birb: Honestly, your video and in general videos about Africa made by actual Africans are just on another level of informativeness, depth and respect compared to those from other countries that I've watched as a kid that were making people look like entertainment actors. Thanks for your work. I'm glad I watched it and learned something.
Wandering Belle ASMR: Their skin tone is GORGEOUS!
Lisa Coye: Thank you for this amazing video and so well narrated. They have a beautiful culture!! Thank you!
Anthony WWG1-WGA: It's amazing to see Aryan traditions still alive and well and that the old world is still with us. ❤️
Beth Roesch: Thank you very much for this. I've been fascinated by the Masai people since I was a kid. I didn't know about the braiding though. They are such a beautiful, proud people. Thank you
Aleyah Malone: The beads are so pretty. And the pride of hair is so important yeesh. The shaving to grieve, the growing for pride, and the shaving again
puth tha: This is the definition of natural beauty. I am from the philippines and I love watching video like this related to african culture. I am always blown away how beautiful this people and their culture. Hoping their culture will be preserve forever. Fan fact Filipinos from the philippines has african blood because our ancistors
Orion: it's pretty nice to learn about other cultures rather than our own, I think this world needs to be united in culture and kindness, thank you for this lesson about these people I deeply appreciate it.
Jabu Wati: In South Africa, we call it ubovu, when someone goes to a traditional healing camp, we put it on our hair as well. Makes hair strong and beautiful.
Katie Fernandez: I love the sense of community, obligations, respect and responsibility. American culture has lost so much of that. The “old fashioned” idea that a man has duties and honor has been lost as cultures evolve. I like the old way better.
Latonya Taylor: These are beautiful my cousins are from Kenya and just moved to USA they are from one of the villages I have never been to Kenya and we are planning a trip there
An Adorable Wombat: They are gorgeous! Hair, skin, body and teeth!
Kolli Wanne: Really appreciate this content. It sheds a neutral insight to a culture that is so often overlooked. As a european I am always glad to get out the usual bubble once in a while. Thank you!