2012 is a special year for many young maasai men in northern tanzania. it's the year of the emorata, the circumcision ceremony, which only happens every 6 to 10 years. boys between the ages of 14 and 18 go through the ceremony in order to become a young warrior. the circumcision is performed without anesthesia and in order to become a warrior, boys must remain motionless during the procedure, as much as a blink will prevent them from being accepted as a warrior.
for the following months after the initiation, the boys wear a black robe and adorn themselves with special jewelry made by their mothers just for this occasion. they paint their faces with chalk mixed with water not only for decoration, but to protect them from evil looks and curses. they will make and wear head dresses made of black ostrich feathers which is also a way to ask for blessings during the recovery time.
in the past, young warriors were required to kill a lion, but nowadays as it's no longer an option, instead they hunt hard to find birds. once they kill them, they will display these tiny birds tied to a frame to prove their hunting abilities.
becoming a warrior is not easy. but once the boys pass all the necessary steps to enter in this new phase of their lives, they bring pride to their parents and gain a newfound respect in their communities.
the boys in these photos are from a boma near monduli and being able to photograph them was an incredible treat for me. i spent a morning with them, learning about them and their customs. they were warm and open, yet visibly proud of their new status. i can't thank them enough for their openness. ashe naleng as they say in maa.
and a special thank you goes to samuel tutunyo at
"touch africa adventures" for taking me to his village and introducing me to his lovely family.
