We found this quite funny and irritating at the same time. We do respect this tradition either way. We just found it unimaginable and unthinkable. However, we learned that, what is not applicable to one person, will be applicable to the other.
Not everyone sees irritating as irritating. The Massai tribe, found in Kenya and Tanzania, spit as a way of saying hello. While the English man would say hello, spitting is a way of greeting.
Asides that, when a baby is born, it is the custom of the men to spit on the newborn and refer to him as bad. They believe this would protect the baby from evil spirits. Maasai warriors also spit in their hands before shaking the hand of an elder.
Furthermore, the Massai tribe is also famous for its drinking of fresh animal blood. spitting at someone in most cultures around the world is seen as rude or uncivilized but not for the Maasai people, who live in Kenya and northern Tanzania.
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.
Fathers bless their daughters on the wedding day by spitting on the daughter’s forehead. Apart from being strange, this practice is very dangerous. Spitting increases the risk of spreading diseases to a great extent.
