The Maasai warriors form a semicircle and take turns jumping at the center, as high as possible, without letting their heels touch the ground. As each man jumps, the others sing a high-pitched song whose tone depends on the height of the jump.
Maasai boys as young as five years old are responsible for looking after the families’ sheep and goats, and older boys are responsible for tending to cattle. In the morning, they must corral the livestock to make sure they are all healthy. The girls are tasked with collecting firewood and water and are in charge of making the morning meal, which is often bread and tea. These chores must be completed before school begins. Students walk to school, which, for some, takes up to an hour.
The national educational system consists of three levels: eight years of compulsory primary education (beginning at age six), four years at the secondary level, and four years of higher education. The government provides free primary and secondary education. Kenya’s government made primary school free for all Kenyan children in 2003. Prior to this, the cost of education was prohibitive for many families. Maasai families, whose wealth is determined by the number of livestock they own, could not always afford to send their children to school. Also, attending school regularly during times of drought can be difficult for Maasai children as families may need to travel great distances in order for their livestock to graze.
