Did you know that spitting at someone can be seen as a sign of respect and blessing? This is the case for the Maasai people, who live in Kenya and northern Tanzania.
The Maasai spit in their palms before shaking hands. In order to wish good luck and long life to newborn children, parents, friends, and the family spit on it.
For these people, spitting is a sign of respect. It is done to greet each other, to welcome or bid farewell to a friend, to clinch a bargain, and to wish someone good luck.
When greeting, they spit in their palms before shaking hands. Spitting among the Maasai, who often lead a semi-nomadic life, is also seen as a form of blessing.
Parents, friends, and family members spit on newborn babies in order to wish them good luck and long life. It is documented that during Maasai weddings, a father blesses his daughter by spitting on her forehead and breasts.
Now occupying a much smaller area in the Kajiado and Narok districts since their vast territory has been taken over by some of Kenya’s game reserves, the Maasai is one of the most popular and unique tribes in Africa due to their long preserved culture.
Accounting for only about 0.7 percent of Kenya’s population, with a similar number in Tanzania, the Maasai are considered to be one of East Africa’s most internationally well-known tourist attractions.
This is largely due to their distinguishing culture, dress style, and terrain. They are often dressed in red sheets otherwise known as shuka, wrapped around the body with tons of beaded jewelry around the neck and arms.
The Maasai have large herds of cattle which they depend on for food and as a source of wealth.
Most of them practice nomadic pastoralism while others are working in the tourism sector, displaying their culture to tourists.
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