The Maasai of East Africa

The Maasai are perhaps the most iconic cultural symbols of East Africa. Inhabiting the Great Rift Valley across Kenya and Tanzania, they have maintained a fierce adherence to their pastoral heritage despite the rapid modernization of the lands surrounding the Serengeti and Ngorongoro.

Across the sweeping volcanic highlands and golden savannahs of the Rift Valley, the Maasai stand as a vivid silhouette against the horizon. Clad in their distinctive red shukas and adorned with intricate beadwork, they represent a culture that views cattle as a sacred gift and the land as a shared legacy. These images observe a people who live in intimate proximity to the world’s most famous wildlife, maintaining a sovereign identity that is as resilient as the acacia trees dotting their homeland.