Maasai people
Ethnic group located in Kenya and Tanzania / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Maasai people?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The Maasai (/ˈmɑːsaɪ, mɑːˈsaɪ/;[3][4] Swahili: Wamasai) are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting northern, central and southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, near the African Great Lakes region.[5] The Maasai speak the Maa language (ɔl Maa),[5] a member of the Nilotic language family that is related to the Dinka, Kalenjin and Nuer languages. Except for some elders living in rural areas, most Maasai people speak the official languages of Kenya and Tanzania, being Swahili and English.[6]
Total population | |
---|---|
c. 2 million | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Kenya | 1,189,522 (2019)[1] |
Tanzania | 800,000 [approximate] (2011)[2] |
Languages | |
Maa (ɔl Maa) | |
Religion | |
Christianity, Maasai religion, Islam | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Samburu, Ilchamus people and other Nilotic peoples |
The Maasai population has been reported as numbering 1,189,522 in Kenya in the 2019 census,[1] compared to 377,089 in the 1989 census, though many Maasai view the census as government meddling and therefore either refuse to participate or actively provide false information.[7][8][9]