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Pre-Intermediate Student's Book: Masai Rite of Passage

The passage describes the Masai rite of passage ceremony called Eunoto. During this ceremony, Masai teenage boys become men. The ceremony lasts several days and involves the boys painting their bodies, having their long hair cut off by their mothers at sunrise, and meeting with elders. They are given the advice that now as men, they should use their heads and knowledge. After the ceremony, the boys are no longer considered warriors and are now adult men who will get married, have children, buy cattle, and eventually become leaders in their communities.

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250 views2 pages

Pre-Intermediate Student's Book: Masai Rite of Passage

The passage describes the Masai rite of passage ceremony called Eunoto. During this ceremony, Masai teenage boys become men. The ceremony lasts several days and involves the boys painting their bodies, having their long hair cut off by their mothers at sunrise, and meeting with elders. They are given the advice that now as men, they should use their heads and knowledge. After the ceremony, the boys are no longer considered warriors and are now adult men who will get married, have children, buy cattle, and eventually become leaders in their communities.

Uploaded by

Daisy Jedh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Pre-Intermediate Student’s Book

Life
6c Page 75 READING TEXT

Masai rite of passage


The Masai are an African tribe of about half a million people. Most of them live in
the country of Kenya, but they are also nomadic. Groups of Masai also live in other
parts of east Africa, including north Tanzania and they move their animals (cows,
sheep and goats) to different areas of the region.

There are many other African tribes but, for many people, the Masai are the most
well-known. They are famous for their bright red clothing and their ceremonies that
include lots of music and dancing. Probably, one of the most colourful ceremonies
is the festival of ‘Eunoto’. This is a rite of passage when the teenage boys of the
Masai become men.

‘Eunoto’ lasts for many days and Masai people travel across the region to get to a
special place near the border between Kenya and Tanzania. The teenage boys who
travel with them are called ‘warriors’. This is a traditional name from the past when
young men fought with other tribes. Nowadays, these warriors spend most of their
time looking after their cattle.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the teenagers paint their bodies. Meanwhile,
their mothers start to build a place called the ‘Osingira’. It is a sacred room in the
middle of the celebrations. Later, the older men from different tribes will sit inside
this place and, at different times, the boys go inside to meet them. Later in the day,
the boys run around the ‘Osingira’, going faster and faster each time. It is another
important part of the ritual.

The teenagers also have to change their appearance at ‘Eunoto’. Masai boys’ hair is
very long before the ritual but they have to cut it off. In Masai culture, hair is an
important symbol. For example, when a baby grows into an infant, the mother cuts
the child’s hair and gives the child a name. At a Masai wedding, the hair of the
bride is also cut off as she becomes a woman. And so, at Eunoto, the teenage boy’s
mother cuts his hair off at sunrise.
Life On the final day, the teenagers meet the senior elders one more
time. They get this advice: ‘Now you are men, use your heads and
knowledge.’ Then, people start to travel back to their homes and
lands. The teenagers are no longer ‘warriors’. They are adult men and now they will
get married, have children and buy cattle. Later in life, they will be the leaders of
their communities.

tribe (n) /traɪb/ large group of families living in the same area
nomadic (adj) /naʊˈmaedɪk/ moving from one place to another and not
staying in one place
warrior (n) /ˈwɒriə(r)/ soldier or someone who fights for the tribe
ritual (n) /ˈrɪtʃuəɭ / formal ceremony with different stages
sunrise (n) /ˈsʌnraɪz/ when the sun comes up and the day starts
elder (n) /ˈeldə(r)/ older and experienced person in a tribe or
community

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