The Maasai Jumping Dance
The Maasai Jumping Dance : The Meaning Behind : Tanzania is a glorious nation where you can enjoy nature, culture, and towering volcanoes. While visiting the world-famous Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, or hiking Kilimanjaro, you can stop at a local village to learn more about Tanzanian culture.
In this fabulous country, you’ve got over 120 ethnic groups and over 130 local languages. So, Tanzania is a cultural melting pot where you’ll meet with one-of-a-kind tribes. Some are more civilized, for example, the Chagga, and some still live their lives traditionally, for example, the Maasai, Hadzabe, Datoga, Barbaig, etc.
The Maasai are a Nilotic ethnic group whose origin is in the Nile Valley. They settled in northern Tanzania in the 15th century. They then survived in the bush with even fierce predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Today, the Maasai still live in the bush in areas like Ngorongoro, Lake Natron, West Kilimanjaro, etc. To a surprise, these locals still live their lives the same way they did hundreds of years ago.
The Maasai traditional dance, also known as the Adumu dance, is one of the fascinating events. It attracts thousands of visitors from around the world. Once you are in Tanzania, the jumping dance is something you should never risk missing out on. In this article, we’ll briefly describe this unique dance, its meaning, history, and how it’s done.
The Adumu Dance
During the ceremony, the Maasai celebrate significant milestones like the transition of boys into men with a Maasai jump. This dance was intended to celebrate initiation ceremonies, marriage, the selection of a village chief, and more. But currently, they do it even when requested by a visitor. They also do it in tourism fairs and events.
History of the Adumu
It’s unclear where the Adumu arose from. But there are claims that the dance originated from the young warriors. They jump higher and higher to hone their leaping and jumping abilities. These skills are very important in combat and hunting. So, this was the way to showcase their capabilities.
But as it developed, the Adumu turned into a mating dance where men showed their strength as they cast their bid to attract women. The Adumu is performed by men only. The females just watch it, sing, and congratulate the best performers.
Maasai jump meaning
The Maasai jump has some traditional implications. The higher you jump, the stronger you are. Usually, it’s believed that men who jump higher can bring more value to the community. The Morans also showcase their strengths to attract potential brides. So, the Maasai girls would go for a Moran who jumped higher. More often, women join the dance when they’re interested.
The Adumu is one of the events done during the Eunoto ceremony. The Eunoto ceremony is done during the transition of junior warriors to senior warriors. It’s done after the Morans have learned more about life in an emanyatta (warrior’s camp) miles away from home. After this period, they’re ready to protect their family, cattle, and the community.
During these ceremonies, the Morans enter another important stage of life—and they are allowed to marry. So, you can feel how intense their Adumu dance will be. They jump all the best they can to be eligible for marriage. Fun enough, no one prepared to fail on this dance. They always practice it during childhood so they’ll perform extraordinarily at their initiation ceremony.
How it’s done
The Morans usually form a circle, and one of them enters at the center. When he is tired, he leaves the circle, and another Moran enters the circle. The dance usually goes with traditional songs. Women sing while men use horns and other things to produce rhythmical sounds. The beads worn on the Maasai shukas usually produce a jiggling sound, creating a unique flavor to the performance.
The Adumu is not as simple as it appears. This dance is difficult, and you’ll realize this after you join. It’s funny to have some Maasai laughing at you after you underperform or do well.
Spear-throwing challenge
The Maasai used spears and other tools to defend their territories. For a Moran to be efficient, he must know how to use this weapon. Therefore, throwing spears is one of the challenges that Morans have to go through.
This one is unique, and you can join it if you’re strong. Morans line up with their spears in their hands. After the countdown, they run a bit and throw their spears. The winner is the one who has thrown the spear to a long distance. Visitors always try this challenge often when they visit the Maasai village.
It’s interesting to learn new lifestyles from the Maasai. You can always enjoy their charm and kindness. They’re also creative artists. Their handmade ornaments, sandals, and many others speak a lot about their culture. You can have a collection for yourself. If you’re inspired to visit the Maasai on your next adventure to Tanzania, book a trip with us.
