The Maasai originated in Ethiopia sometime during the seventeenth century. During the nineteenth century the Maasai began a southern migration attacking and absorbing other tribes along the way in order to gain more land for cattle-grazing.
Cattle are an integral part of Maasai life. So much so that cattle are treated with the same respect accorded to family members, and in most cases, they are used as currency.
In the "The African Paradox" there is this story told by Kasi Koonyi of how the Maasai became herdsmen with cattle. "In the beginning, when there was only forest, Ngai (God) gave us bushmen to hunt for us. But then the animals moved away, too far to be hunted. The Maasai prayed to Ngai to give us an animal that wouldn't move away, and He said 'Wait seven days.'"
Koonyi takes a hide strap and holds one end of it skyward, to demonstrate a ramp sweeping down to Earth. "cattle came down from heaven, and everyone said, 'Look at that! Our God is so kind; he sent us such a beautiful beast. It has milk, beautiful horns, and different colors. Not like the wildebeest or buffalo, with only one color.'"
The Maasai claim all the cattle are meant for them, and kick the bushmen out of their bomas. When the bushmen ask Ngai for their own cattle to feed themselves, He refused, but offered them the bow and arrow. "That's why they still hunt in the forests instead of herding like we Maasai."
Koonyi explains the Maasai figured out how to burn trees to create savannas for their herds; the fires also smoke out malarial mosquitoes. "When humans were mere hunter-gatherers, we weren't much different from any other animal. Then we were chosen by God to become pastoralists, with divine dominion over the best animals, and our blessings grew."
