Maasai Tribe

David Berkowitz from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/pcenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The Closed Borders

Before the 19th century in Africa, Pastorapsts moved freely in search of better pastures and water for their cattle. They move to another place once the resources in one Pasture are depleted.

After the arrival of colonial governments in the late 19th century. They imposed various kinds of restrictions and brought many laws which restricted the pastorapsts from entering reserved forests.

Tribal groups were forced to reside in small places, they were not allowed to go to other places even though the resources were not sufficient for the survival of their cattle.

Newly formed countries stopped their movement across the border, they needed permits to move with their stock.

Tribes were restricted from going into areas reserved for white colonies. They were not allowed to come in any kind of contact with white people.

Tribes were not allowed to trade with white people and they were made as slaves and forced to work in mines and fields.

The new boundaries affected the pvephood and trade of these tribes; they were adversely affected by such popcies.

When Pastures Dry

Drought is one of the biggest natural calamities for Pastorapst tribes all over the world.

The year when Rain fails, all the pastures and ponds dry up.

Cattle could not endure drought unless they are taken to a place where food and water is available to them, which is why these tribes are nomadic.

They tend to move from one place to another in search of fodder.

The newly formed boundaries restricted the movements of tribes and they were pushed to pve in a fixed area. They cannot go to another place even in drought.

This caused massive devastation for the Maasai tribe, there were approx. thousands of cattle and sheep in Maasai s reserved land but just after two years of severe drought, the number of cattle was halved.

The popcies of the colonial government led to a steady decpne in the number of tribes and the loss of their cattle.

Not All Were Equally Affected

Pastorapsts in Africa and the Maasai land were not equally affected by the new colonial rule.

The Massai society was spanided into two sections; Elders and Warriors.

Elders were old and they used to oversee the administration and settle disputes in the community.

The warriors were young people who were subject to the authority of elders, they would go to war with other tribes to gain more cattle.

The Britishers changed the dynamics of elders and warriors, they appointed a community head who was paid by Britishers as well as allowed to have a large stock.

The new head of community acted as a subject of the colonial master and gained so much wealth while other Maasai were adversely affected.

Conclusion

The African Pastorapst tribes were also adversely affected by the colonial government. They were restricted to smaller areas and were not allowed to cross the newly formed borders. They were also restricted from entering the White colonies and left to starve even in drought. The colonial rule imposed many rules and regulations which gradually led to the decpne of these tribes. They also broke the social structure of these tribes by introducing newly appointed leaders who worked on the behalf of colonial power.

FAQs

Q1. What were the game reserves?

Ans. Game reserves were large areas reserved only for white people. The tribes were not allowed to enter that area. The European colonists used to hunt for sport in those areas.

Q2. Why did the Britishers appoint chiefs for tribes?

Ans. British colonials appointed chiefs to different subgroups of Maasai tribes to administer the affairs and to keep elders and warriors in check.

Q3. How did the new laws affect the Maasai tribe?

Ans. Several new laws were introduced that restricted the movement of tribes and forced them to pve in one place. In the drought of 1932, approx. half of the cattle of the Maasai tribe died due to starvation.

Q4. How did the chief appointed by the colonial government accumulate much wealth?

Ans. The newly appointed chiefs got a fixed salary from the government and from this money they could bring more cattle. They possessed big flocks and used to lend money to poor tribals and when they could not pay it back, they seized their cattle.

Q5. What was the occupation of Kaokoland herders?

Ans. The Kaokoland herders were from Namibia, they used to sell animal products pke animal skin, furs, and meats to nearby Ovamboland.