MAASAI WEDDING TRADITIONS

The Maasai community have a very serious outlook on marriage. They believe that a couple once
married must stay together forever and a divorce is not an option unless, the dowry is not paid in
full.

The Maasai marriage tradition starts with showing interest or intention. The man gives an Olipsai
(a wedding necklace) to the woman of his choosing, then find a woman of his age to give alcohol
to his chosen girl’s mother. After this, the first step is to give the woman Espiritu Enkoshoke, it
symbolizes that the woman is engaged. The next step is to give the chosen woman’s father a gift
if alcohol form the same girl that gave alcohol called Enkiroret to the chosen woman’s mother.
The Enkiroret is expected to be drank by the woman’s father and relatives and ask the man to
show his intentions to the woman. Once accepted this will lead to a formal relationship.

After showing intention they will move on to proposing. The man will give gifts to the woman’s
family until they are satisfied with the stability of the man’s family. The gifts given will be the
bride’s dowry, to legalize the marriage this is also a mark of the man to the bride’s family to
show that the bride is already given to someone.

Afterwards, the wedding commences. The ceremony starts with the man bringing dowry of 2
cows, and a bull that are all black and two sheep, a female and a male. They will butcher the the
ram and remove its fats to be applied on the wedding traditional attire.

Following the wedding, the ewe (female sheep) is expected to be given to the mother-in-law and
expected husband and from that day they will treat each other as ‘Paker,’ the one who gave me
the sheep. There is also a calf given to the father-in-law where they will then call each other
‘Pakiteng’ or ‘Entawuo’

That morning the bride’s head will be shaved and anointed with oil. Her wedding dress will be
adorned with Imaasa (decoration of Maasai beads). The garment is created by all her relatives to
symbolize unity and not selfishness. She will then be blessed with alcohol and milk by the elders
and lead to her husband’s home where she will live for 2 days, and the man is not allowed to lie
down with her or eat with her until the 2 days is up. After the 2 days, the brides head will be
shaved by the man’s mother and the ceremony is completed.