In search of the origin of color. Africa. Kenya. Masai Red.

August 2023

Think of a color so you can almost sence it.. Dust in the air, the heat of the sun, the intoxicating smell of dried grass, animals. Sunrise, sunset. All hues around that come to one color. Red.

Eagle View Conservatory. View to Savannah.

In the Eastern part of Africa, southern part of Kenya, on the border with Tanzania Maasai people have their home, and they speak the language of the same name.

The Maasai were originally a Nilo-Saharan people centred around the area of what is today Sudan. They then migrated southwards, along with other tribes such as the Tutsi, searching for better grazing and agricultural lands, a quest which eventually took them into central East Africa around 1750 CE. Finally settling on the savannah grass plains of what is today southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.

The Maasai identity is often defined by colourful beaded necklaces, an iron rod (as a weapon) and of course, red shuka cloth. While red is the most common colour, the Maasai also use blue, striped, and checkered cloth to wrap around their bodies.

But Red is the most important color; symbolising courage, bravery, and strength. The Maasai also believe that red scares off predators like lions even at long distances. Red also represents unity within the Maasai culture because livestock are slaughtered when communities come together in celebration. As learned from Maasai people, it helps them also, to see each other from long distances on savannah grasses.

Maasai wearing leather garments

RED is the most important color for the Maasai community. It represents cow blood – which the Maasai drink mixed with cattle milk for added nutrition, power and strength – especially in times of famine. It is also considered important for Maasai warriors to wear it as a way to protect themselves against wild animals. So as Maasai are cattle herders people, they belive that all cattle belong to them. Most likely the red color has been brought by them.

Masai Mara Conservatory. Welcome dance.

But, what about Shuka?

Maasai clothing varies by sex, age and place. Young men wear black for several months after their circumcision. Although, red is a favored color among the Maasai. Black, Blue, checked and striped cloth are also worn, together with multi-coloured African garments. In the 1960s the Maasai began to replace sheepskin, calf hides and animal skin for more commercial material. The cloth used to wrap around the body is the called Shúkà in the Maa language. Which we know, they buy it today in town store.

The shuka is made of thick cotton or wool and features bold patterns and bright colors.

Shuka blanket in red blue tartan pattern bought in Masai Village

Preparing to be a warrior, Maasai wears a wool wig with red decoration elements on his head

But how and why they chose shuka cloth is still unclear today. There are a few schools of thought. One of them is traced back through centuries — fabrics were used as a means of payment during the slave trade and landed in East Africa, while black, blue, and red natural dyes were obtained from Madagascar. There were actually records of red-and-blue checked “guinea cloth” becoming very popular in West Africa during the 18th century.

To accomplish the look, the Maasai women regularly weave and bead jewellery, which plays an essential part in the ornamentation of their body. Ear piercing and the stretching of earlobes are also part of Maasai beauty, and both men and women wear metal hoops on their stretched earlobes.

Beads pattern

But, that is not the end.

The Masai warrior, as well as bride and groom preparing for wedding, wearing red paste, spread on their hair, face and sometimes on the rest of the body.

Its believed, it is protecting from mosquitos bites, as well is a part of red look, which makes wild animals stays away from Maasai warrior.

Until starting preparing for the trip, i have been not thinking much of African colors. Maybe except Indygo, which there is a lot of informations. Moreover, Africa is such a generalisation, as so large continent consist of so many countries and cultures and so as many tribes.

When I made research about african colors and plants, i found a few and believed i can find them in Kenya. But those plants, i was informed, unfortunately do not grow in Kenya.

The "red" soil

The red, i believed, was obtained from accessible everywhere known as ocher red soil, was also not correct information. I was wrong, he said. They do not use for body or fabric colouring. It is the Red Oak Paste that is used to decorate and protect the body.

Maasai warriors wearing red

Red powder is obtained from the heart of the tree called Red Oak. The wood flakes are crushed and ground into a powder mist. Such a powder, it has an unusual depth, and a bit of dust mixed with cow's fat, makes a paste for body paint. After asking to find the red oak, i was said the red oak most likely comes from Tanzania region.

Maasai warriors red oak powder

But, i have been extremely lucky and happy, to be able to purchase the red oak powder from Masai Mara Village Chief. I felt i have been shared something really important and precious.

But how this red is red?

The powder is really intense. A tiny dot of powder, colors skin really deep.

Is this powder coloring the textiles? i dont know yet. Could not find yet information, if the Maasai red textile was colored with Red Oak Heart, or the red color like the other colors has been brought from other regions of Africa. Will it be similar to Sandal Wood? Will see.

Maasai woman in greeting dance. Woman wears different typeof colorfull of cotton fabric from man

I would like to belive that, while the tribes have been migrating from Nile-Sahara region, they have been learning from other tribes, and barrowing knowlage of colors dye that they brought with them to Savanah in Kenya. The same way as the color knowlage has been traveling in via Asia, Europe and Americas. And as we learn, its not always the plant origin that comes from our region.

Red color in interiors found everywhere

The beauty of toned down red/orange sands, red quartz stones bloodied with iron oxide, and red oak heart powder.

Its been amazing journey. Hope not the last one in this beautiful place on earth. And can't thank enough for opportunity to join the trip.Thank you@amundsensports

xoxo

JZR