Culture

The Challenge

The Maasai have become the iconic face of Africa in recent decades, thanks to popular culture and mass tourism. Their image is displayed in brochures, magazines and on billboards around the world. Despite their fame, the Maasai are fast losing their material culture and profound knowledge of livestock, environment and wildlife. Their culture is facing growing challenges from both outside and within as they embrace developments and formal education.

The survival of Kenya’s amazing wildlife and the tourism that goes along with it are inextricably tied to Maasai culture. The Maasai have coexisted with wildlife for centuries. Their traditional way of moving with their livestock prevents land degradation and permanent settlements, providing a landscape in which both people and wildlife can thrive.

NOTES: need larger res. image & credit, if possible

Maasai Cultural Heritage

The Maasai Cultural Heritage Program mobilizes communities in Kenya to revive and celebrate their common heritage through annual cultural festivals (the first held in 2013), a cultural heritage center and museum, cultural exchanges, and the development of cultural tourism that brings benefits to the genuine custodians of their culture.