Kenya is a place of more than 40 ethnic communities and thus it is a unique African country having rare traditions and culture. Although, Kenya has no specific national dress, yet many acknowledged outfits are particular identification of this African nation that can be assumed as the traditional dress of Kenya.

A tribal warrior of Kenya in his traditional wear – Image : Retlaw Snellac

The modern population of Kenya use the Western dresses as the men usually dress up in suits with ties while the women wear skirt and blouse along with a Khanga (A wrapped cloth around the body). . The Khanga is a piece of clothing about 1.5 m by 1 m, screen printed with beautiful sayings in Swahili (or English) and is largely worn by women around the waist and torso. Similarly the Kenyan children also wear the American dresses.

A Kenyan women wearing the traditional dress – Image: Pam Morris

But what is so interesting for the student of culture and traditions about Kenya? Obviously, this is the clothing of the Kenyan tribes. Kitenge is a popular traditional dress of Kenya which is actually a cotton fabric made into various colors and designed through tie-and-dye and heavy embroidery.  Kitenge is not declared as the official dress of Kenya but as it is commonly worn during ceremonies and non-official functions. Each tribe has kept alive the tradition to wear its own cultural costumes, but the Masaiare dress is truly the traditional dress of Kenya. Masai tribe is the most well known Kenyan community and similarly the Samburu and Turkana people are also specially known for their traditional costumes.

Masai Mara women in their traditional dresses – Image : The Dilly Lama

Massai women can be seen wearing vast plate-like bead necklaces, and the colorful Kanga. The men are famous for wearing a red-checked Shuka ( A typical Masai blanket) and carry a distinctive ball-ended club. The Red color is the symbol of chivalry and bravery for the people of Masai.

The Kenyan tribal men wearing the traditional Shuka – Image: Katharine Heathcock

The traditional dress of Kenya also includes the conventional sandals that are actually smooth footwear, sometimes soled with pieces of motorcycle tires. The adult tribal men traditionally dye their hair red with ochre and fat in order to present the warrior look.

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You can experience facing the ghost in the African Savanna but it would be real daring. The Massai warriors have continued their centuries old tradition of the ghost hunt which is a viperous practice. This Ghost of East Africa is the East African lion or Masai lion which is found in East Africa, from Ethiopia and Kenya to Tanzania and Mozambique.

The male East African or Massai lions are generally 2.5–3.0 meters (8.2–9.8 feet) long including the tail. Lioness is generally smaller, at only 2.3–2.6 meters (7.5–8.5 feet). In weight, males are generally 145–200 kg (320–440 pounds), and females are 100–165 kg (220–360 pounds). Lions, male or female, have a shoulder height of 0.9–1.10 meters (3.0–3.6 feet).

Massai Lion, the ghost of East Africa - Image: tazbabeslotus

The diet of East African Lion consists of wide variety of prey, from wildebeest, impala, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and wild hogs to sometimes rhinos and hippos. Sometimes they can also pre smaller animals such as hares, birds and reptiles.

Massai Lioness: A fantastic image by Stefan Gerrits

Even on the no availability of food, the Massai lions are also known to attack elephants. Although the population of Massai Lions is not critically endangered but their number has been reduced by half since the early 1950s.

The pair of Massai Lion in an aggressive mood - Image: Pair-Pink_rose9

These lions love to live in big prides comprising of 10-15 members and they are largely protected these days in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in the south west of Kenya. In the past, the solo hunting of the Massai Lion was a symbol of bravery and courage among the Massai community. Solo lion hunting required huge self-confidence and special hunting skills. P. l. nubica or Massai Lion, the ghost of East Africa is also known locally as Tsavo Lion.

Massai Lion Cubs: A naughty image by Tambako the Jaguar

The Massai people having an estimated population of 900,000 dwelling in Kenya and the northern parts of Tanzania are considered to be the most well known ethnic group of Africa. They are so unique in their traditions, customs and dressings and known as Nilotic ethnic group. Despite of the numerous efforts of the governments of Kenya and Tanzania to change their perambulatory life styles, they are continuing their ancient customs. They are distinguished in the world for their horrific warrior characteristic and cattle desperados.

Dance of Massai Warriors

The Massai are monotheistic, and they worship Enkai or Engai. Acceding to their beliefs Engai is a single deity of twofold dispositions.  Engai Narok (Black God) is beneficent, and Engai Nanyokie (Red God) is of retaliating nature. The “Mountain of God”, Ol Doinyo Lengai, is situated in northernmost Tanzania. The Massai are also prominent in all ethnic groups of the world for their byzantine jewelry. The clothing of Massai is also idiosyncratic and it is known as Matavuvale.

The most respectable Massai is considered due to his number of his children and cattle in his herd. This is also the basic source of their economy. They have the strong beliefs that God blessed them with all the cattle in the world and to rob the cattle from the other tribes is their invulnerable right. There is no typical burial tradition of a dead Massai and they keep the dead body open for vultures in an open space after covering it with the fat and blood of a slaughtered bull.

Another distinctive feature of Massai people is their music and traditional jumping dances. The whole show is displayed by vocalists singing together but the main melodies are sung by a song leader.  The lyrics of such song carry typical theme and they also move their necks while singing and it is having a huge polyphonic impression.

The Massai also have the custom of modifying their bodies. Specially the piercing of earlobes is very common among them. To do this they use different tools including thorns for piercing, twigs, bundles of twigs, stones, the cross section of elephant tusks and empty film canisters. The Massai women use chaplets and beaded necklaces in their pierced ears. The head shaving of Massai is also an inherent practice before entering into a marital relationship. Apart from warrior community of Massai who keep longer hair for their recognition the normal Massai keep very short hair.