GIGI & BORIS' GREAT ADVENTURE: Maasai Market

After the Mulala Village trip, we decided to not do another village visit because the last one (Mulala) seemed to cater too much to tourists. We had not planned on spending another day with Peter, but he had mentioned the chance to visit a weekly market outside of Arusha. We called him up and set up a time to meet.

The market was a good 20 or 30 km outside of Arusha. This meant passing several new sites. One of which was, thanks to George Bush (#2), a mosquito netting factory that was still operating and provided free nets in an effort to limit the spread of malaria. Supposedly, malaria rates are quite low in the Arusha region as a result.

We also passed a jail. The jail had crops and livestock tended to by the prisoners (as explained by Peter, they have to eat too). Life for prisoners is rough. They sleep on the floor and there are no measures to limit mosquitoes or other diseases that may spread in a jail. Peter basically indicated that a long jail sentence often ends with death.

View from the road

We pulled up to the market area, hopped out of the car, and just stood there, looking down on it all. The market was huge! It took up an open field and the surrounding buildings. As we descended into the market, Peter suggested a route that would hit all parts without repeat. We happily complied-- hoping to just take it all in. The thing that stood out the most was the color. Maasai typically dress in reds or bright blues, though many of the women were in other bright, patterned colors.

Calabash negotiating

The market is a chance for trading between Maasai and other, more agricultural tribes/villages. In general, Maasai bring in livestock (goats, cows, etc.) to sell and look to purchase grains, bananas, and other items. There was an area where donkeys were tied waiting to be loaded up for the trip back home. Evidently, some Maasai come from up to 50km away.

There is less of a sequential story to tell about this visit. Instead, we’ll just offer up some of our observations or things we learned along the way.

It was incredibly beautiful due to the collection of colors. The day was one of simply trying to take in the activities around us. The Maasai women, with their very decorative earrings and necklaces, and the men, who moved with incredible grace, were endlessly fascinating.
Maasai are tall. In fact, Peter explained that in winning a wife, height and vertical leap were critical factors.

Maasai have many wives. Wives of the same man often had on matching ankle bracelets and would walk in order from first wife, to second, and so on. The age range of the wives was often striking with the first wife appearing quite old and the newest wife (e.g. 4^th or 5^th) appearing shockingly young. The first and second wives had very ornate earrings and other jewelry.
The calabash are surprisingly light in weight and beautiful. Adrienne wanted one as decoration for the house. Dina reminded her that they would not travel well. It’s true. They’re quite big.