Tradition is people’s beliefs and practices which in this case has been passed on from one generation to another. In the book, Blossoms of the Savannah, the author H.R Kulet explores the tradition of the Maa people. Using the Nasilian community, the book looks at the socio-economic and political set-up of the Maasai people.
The Maa people, in this case, the people of Nasila, have several traditional practices. To begin with, they threaded female genital mutilation is the heart of the story. When Kaelo’s family relocates to the village, Mama Milanoi fears for her daughters (pg8). As it seems urbanization had shielded them from the fearful mutilation. Another practice is polygamy. Kaelo seems contended with his lean family and wife but his brother Simiren bathes in the glory of four wives and more than sixteen children (pg16). Curiously enough the author does not give the definite number of Simiren’s children. I should point out that, in many African traditions, children are not counted. In most cases, the average number is given. Or maybe it is just the author’s way of writing.
Besides the two, the Nasila people practiced communalism. The beauty of communalism or what I may call community socialism is that it promoted selflessness (pg149). The key lessons Kaelo’s daughter’s learned were being mindful of others and respect for the elders. These virtues among others made Resian and Taiyo come to love Nasila and appreciate several aspects of Nasila tradition their parents had not taught them. Resian found out that in the presence of such uniformity of love and lack of preference she could relate well with society and perform her duties without her father’s reprimand. In fact, Kaelo’s daughter had the best of times at their uncle’s home than when at their lovely mansion up the hill.
Furthermore, Nasila tradition had a way of maintaining itself through the informal traditional education called Olkuak (pg150). Olkuak ensured that the cultural practices were passed on to the next generation. It was the responsibility of the elderly to pass on the lessons to the young generations.
Also the people of Nasila were welcoming to any person who paid them a visit. “it was not unusual thing to get up in the morning to find the living room full of men and women who came that early, not for any tangible business, but simply to share sumptuous breakfast with their kith and kin.”(pg35) At first, it was unsettling for the girls but soon they came to acknowledge this as was of Nasila’s custom.
There were also aspects of Nasila tradition that had ceased to exist. When Oluisudori asks for permission to marry Resian, Mama Milanoi contemplates how things had changed (pg115). According to Mama Milanoi, tradition forbade a man marrying a daughter of his age mate. If a man was infatuated by such a girl, women would rally against men and only the persuasion of the elderly would appease women to allow their men back to the house. Meanwhile, the man who attempted such a thing was killed by the angry mob of women. Besides, Nasila people were overly protective of their girls. If male guests came to a homestead where girls were, they would wait outside until the girls had been taken away before getting into the house.
Another tradition that was thrown out was “emuata a horrible and disgusting cultural practice that demanded young brides to wear heavy copper wire tightly coiled around their limbs.” (pg263) The gruesome practice was discarded for its effects on girls and women. Minik hoped that FGM would go the same way.
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