THE POWER OF THE BEADS

 THE POWER OF THE BEADS

Today  I will share something different from my normal posts:

I thought of writing about culture and what better way to explain it than to use my own. The Maasai have undoubtedly one of the most famous traditional cultures on earth. They are known to have a more complex and interesting culture and have maintained the traditional rites and customs to date.

There is a lot about the culture to write about but ,I will major on the Maasai art work; precisely bead work. Being an  African, we understand and love jewelry. Our ancient  ancestors used beads mostly as gifts. The Maasai are widely known for the intricate embellishments. The image of the beaded Maasai is widely known and has become part of our national identity.

You must have noticed the colorful beadwork Maasai men and women adorn.Colour is a very important element in the Maasai culture and each have different meanings which I will share with you:

·         Red: Represents bravery, strength, unity and the incredible challenges Maasai people face each day

·         Blue: Symbolizes energy,sustenance and the color of the sky which provides water for the people and their cattle

·         Green: Symbolizes nourishment and production, representing the land that provides food for the people and their livestock and the protection of one’s territory

·         Orange: Symbolizes warmth, friendship, generosity and hospitality, representative of the color of a gourd which is used to share milk with guests and welcome visitors into one’s home

·         Yellow: Symbolizes fertility and growth, representing the color of the sun which helps grow the grass to feed the livestock and sustain life

·         White: Represents purity and health symbolizing the color of cow’s milk that provides sustained nourishment

·         Black: Symbolizes unity, harmony and solidarity, representing the color of the people and the daily struggles they endure each day.

So why do people like the Maasai bead work;Durability,variety and the vibrant colors that are eye catching. 

In recent years, the distinctive Maasai beading and decorative jewelry have become a fashion item in the West, and remain one of the most popular items taken home by visitors to Kenya. 

Though changing of fashion trends, beads are known to remain.

#Cindy