The Masai Women (African Tribes – Full Documentary) | TRACKS
When women of the East African Maasai tribe reach puberty, they will live to be one of many wives in marriages most often arranged by their parents. They become part of a new family, and their main responsibilities are centred around housework and looking out for their husband’s cattle. The Maasai women’s notion of wealth is tied to their dependency on having their sons and daughters to take care of them as they grow old – so they pray to God for fertility and pregnancy, a practice and belief called “Enkishon” in the Maasai language.
The greatest pride for a Maasai woman is to join her son in his initiation rituals to become a warrior, hence she will move to live with him, bringing her husband’s cattle to his household.
The documentary series “Disappearing World” was originally broadcasted between 1970-1975.
As an anthropological landmark of its time, the series tells the story of traditional communities endangered by the modern world’s progressions.
The series stands as a historical document of daily life in remote and threatened societies, such as the Cuiva, Embera and Panare Indians of Colombia, the nomadic Tuareg of the Sahara, the Kurdish Dervishes and the Meo of China.
