See general information on this region.... |The Maasai are
undoubtedly one of the most famous traditional cultures on
earth.| They have loomed large in western perception of Kenya,
ever since the publication in 1885 of Joseph Thompson's Through
Maasailand, his sensational account of his exploration of Kenya.
To many people, the Maasai have come to represent Africa at its
most primal, a fiercely independent tribe of legendary courage
who sternly shun the modern world in favour of traditional rites
and customs. In recent years, the distinctive Maasai beading and
decorative jewellrey have become a fashion item in the West, and
remain one of the most popular items taken home by visitors to
Kenya. So popular has Maasai beading become that many modern
functional items, including watchstraps, belts, handbags and
even mobile phone covers are being produced in Maasai designs.
Even the hi-tech website you are currently reading incorporates
a Maasai beaded motif, chosen to give our site a truly Kenyan
appearance. The Ma