The Maasai
The Maasai tribe is an indigenous ethnic group found in Kenya and Tanzania. The Maasai people keep cattle, which make up the primary source of food. In their traditional belief, the more cattle and children one has, the wealthier one is. A Maasai myth says that God afforded them all the cattle on earth.
Maasai people are semi-nomadic and travel from place to place, looking for green pastures and water for their livestock. The Maasai have held on to distinct traditions, customs, and dress codes. They wrap a leso (shuka) cloth around the body. The older generation firmly holds to old customs even though younger generations have dropped some customs, especially on dress codes. Their official population is about 900,000.
The Maasai tribe lives in traditionally made houses called Manyattas. They use local materials to construct their houses. The houses are either circular or loaf-shaped and are predominantly built by women. Their villages are enveloped in a circular fence built by the men to protect their cattle at night from wild animals.
The Maasai community is firmly patriarchal. Men lead the families and make the decisions. The Maasai people are monotheistic and believe in their God called "Engai or Enkai," who lives in the mountain. They love music, dance,
PIPES started engaging with the Maasai community in 2020. We have since done multiple evangelism and discipleship meetings. In 2021, we completed a discipleship workbook in the Maasai language, which churches in Kenya and Tanzania use now. We also have a local missionary living and working among the Maasai people. Apart from sharing the gospel, our local missionary is helping women to establish saving groups and create health awareness, especially in hygiene and sanitation.
PIPES International is establishing a Maasai Mission Center (MMC), a center of excellence to train missionaries to reach indigenous people, train farmers on modern farming methods and train leadership skills to community leaders to help them transform their communities.
Maasai people are semi-nomadic and travel from place to place, looking for green pastures and water for their livestock. The Maasai have held on to distinct traditions, customs, and dress codes. They wrap a leso (shuka) cloth around the body. The older generation firmly holds to old customs even though younger generations have dropped some customs, especially on dress codes. Their official population is about 900,000.
The Maasai tribe lives in traditionally made houses called Manyattas. They use local materials to construct their houses. The houses are either circular or loaf-shaped and are predominantly built by women. Their villages are enveloped in a circular fence built by the men to protect their cattle at night from wild animals.
The Maasai community is firmly patriarchal. Men lead the families and make the decisions. The Maasai people are monotheistic and believe in their God called "Engai or Enkai," who lives in the mountain. They love music, dance,
PIPES started engaging with the Maasai community in 2020. We have since done multiple evangelism and discipleship meetings. In 2021, we completed a discipleship workbook in the Maasai language, which churches in Kenya and Tanzania use now. We also have a local missionary living and working among the Maasai people. Apart from sharing the gospel, our local missionary is helping women to establish saving groups and create health awareness, especially in hygiene and sanitation.
PIPES International is establishing a Maasai Mission Center (MMC), a center of excellence to train missionaries to reach indigenous people, train farmers on modern farming methods and train leadership skills to community leaders to help them transform their communities.