who were called the elders in maasai society
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The first of these rites is called Olngesherr and is an approval of the elder status. During the ceremony, the elders take the name of a new group which permanently marks their generation. The main characteristics of this complicated ceremony are: an ox without defect is killed by suffocation, its jugular is cut and its blood is mixed with milk and honey and drunk by each elder undergoing the ritual.
Then the wives of the elders make an enclosure with animal skins. The meat of the ox is roasted within the enclosure and those taking part in the ceremony all gather in the enclosure to eat the meat. Before doing this, some parts of the meat (the breast, for example) are rubbed on the forehead as a sign of blessing. The following morning, further blessings are conferred on the elders with sour milk placed in empty gourds previously well washed. Each one also receives a new ring made from the soft part of the breast of the slaughtered ox. As a further blessing, ritual white paint is applied by the more important elders to the faces of the new elders.
One striking part of the ceremony called Olngesherr is the blessing of the herd staffs of the new elders. Their branding irons are first oiled with butter and honey before being put in the fire. Once they are hot, they are plunged into a container of cow urine; as the hot irons touch the cool liquid, a cloud of vapour rises. The elders shake their herd staffs in the vapour so that they are blessed. The ceremony is concluded in this way: the skin of the ox is ritually spread out and an elder respected by all, plants a green sprout at each entrance to the ‘manyatta’.
Then the wives of the elders make an enclosure with animal skins. The meat of the ox is roasted within the enclosure and those taking part in the ceremony all gather in the enclosure to eat the meat. Before doing this, some parts of the meat (the breast, for example) are rubbed on the forehead as a sign of blessing. The following morning, further blessings are conferred on the elders with sour milk placed in empty gourds previously well washed. Each one also receives a new ring made from the soft part of the breast of the slaughtered ox. As a further blessing, ritual white paint is applied by the more important elders to the faces of the new elders.
One striking part of the ceremony called Olngesherr is the blessing of the herd staffs of the new elders. Their branding irons are first oiled with butter and honey before being put in the fire. Once they are hot, they are plunged into a container of cow urine; as the hot irons touch the cool liquid, a cloud of vapour rises. The elders shake their herd staffs in the vapour so that they are blessed. The ceremony is concluded in this way: the skin of the ox is ritually spread out and an elder respected by all, plants a green sprout at each entrance to the ‘manyatta’.
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