Maasai beadwork can be seen as a combination of expressive, reflective, and societal culture. Their beadwork is part of their fashion and their artistic expression. The beads also represent what the Maasai believe in as well as their knowledge considering their beaded jewelry represents a person's identity. The beads are also used to represent family, politics and their community, making the Massai beaded jewelry a representation of the three types of culture.
Maasai beads are used to symbolize their whole world. When a woman is ready for marriage she wears a beaded necklace, also called a collar, to indicate she is engaged and the groom wears one as well. The number of rows of beads could specify how many animals a bride’s family will receive from the groom’s family, because in Maasai culture the dowry system is the opposite. On the day of the wedding, the bride will wear a special elaborate wedding collar that is only worn on her wedding day.
All the people in the community wear a beaded pendant to signify their age class. All the pendants of the same generation are identical but the beadwork pattern around it is unique to who made it.
Women also use collars to specify what they are interested in. The colors and patterns they have chosen could indicate what animals they prefer and if they like certain objects, like the sun or the sky. Many unmarried Maasai women wear large round disks around their necks, especially when they dance. The movement of the disks signifies their grace and flexibility.
There are many people of African decent that do not benefit from beaded jewelry and can live without it. The people who belong to the Maasai culture however can not live comfortably without this item. To them, beaded jewelry is who they are and how they express themselves. Everything about them is depicted in their jewelry, and it is also symbolic for certain events in their lives. The different age stages in life, for example, coming of age and marriage are a few events that are depicted in their jewelry. I believe they can not live comfortably without beaded jewelry because it is something they use to show the world who they are and the women who produce the jewelry take a lot of time to make them.
There are many forms of beaded jewelry in the Maasai culture. The jewelry used by non-married women includes round disks that are made using various colors. These disks are large and flat and some women wear multiple pieces. Other forms of beaded jewelry are much simpler like necklaces, bracelets, and headbands. Today, beaded jewelry is one of the Maasai woman's only income and they depend heavily on the sales and distribution of their jewelry.
Maasai beads are used to symbolize their whole world. When a woman is ready for marriage she wears a beaded necklace, also called a collar, to indicate she is engaged and the groom wears one as well. The number of rows of beads could specify how many animals a bride’s family will receive from the groom’s family, because in Maasai culture the dowry system is the opposite. On the day of the wedding, the bride will wear a special elaborate wedding collar that is only worn on her wedding day.
All the people in the community wear a beaded pendant to signify their age class. All the pendants of the same generation are identical but the beadwork pattern around it is unique to who made it.
Women also use collars to specify what they are interested in. The colors and patterns they have chosen could indicate what animals they prefer and if they like certain objects, like the sun or the sky. Many unmarried Maasai women wear large round disks around their necks, especially when they dance. The movement of the disks signifies their grace and flexibility.
There are many people of African decent that do not benefit from beaded jewelry and can live without it. The people who belong to the Maasai culture however can not live comfortably without this item. To them, beaded jewelry is who they are and how they express themselves. Everything about them is depicted in their jewelry, and it is also symbolic for certain events in their lives. The different age stages in life, for example, coming of age and marriage are a few events that are depicted in their jewelry. I believe they can not live comfortably without beaded jewelry because it is something they use to show the world who they are and the women who produce the jewelry take a lot of time to make them.
There are many forms of beaded jewelry in the Maasai culture. The jewelry used by non-married women includes round disks that are made using various colors. These disks are large and flat and some women wear multiple pieces. Other forms of beaded jewelry are much simpler like necklaces, bracelets, and headbands. Today, beaded jewelry is one of the Maasai woman's only income and they depend heavily on the sales and distribution of their jewelry.