WHO IS THE ENGAI, THE GOD OF THE MAASAI?

There are many myths and legends about the deity in the community of Maasais. But how much Maasais believe in the God today and how much they are scared to be punished by God for crimes they are doing? This article will be all about this topic.

First few words about the myths and legends:

By tradition the Maasai are monotheistic tribe - what means they believe only in one God - the Engai. It is neither male nor female. And for the Maasai tribe the Engai is the creator of EVERYTHING. 

Maasais use many different names for Engai - the God;

"Oloikurrukur" - what means "my thundering one"

"Magilani" - what means "powerful knowing one"

"Olaidimani" - what means "that one who is able"

"Natii ilakir" - what means "where the stars are"

The Maasais believed that the home of the Engai is high in the sky, on specific mountains around the area where Maasais were living (region of Arusha). 

The most famous mountain of their God is "Oldoinyo Orok" - the "Black Mountain", in real world Mt. Meru, which is holy place and it's supposing to be a home of the God Engai. There is not too much snow up there and the mountain looks really very black, It's a dormant stratovolcano with alkaline include nephelinite. It has lost the part of its original height about 7800 years ago due to a summit collapse. The last eruption was recorded in 1910.

The next very important mountain for the Maasais was "Oldoinyo Oibor", the "White Mountain" knows in today's world as Mt. Killimanjaro. There is an iceberg on the top, so snow-capped hill really looks very white. Maybe today when the iceberg on the top is slowly disappearing it doesn't look that much white anymore, but in the past it was huge mass of the snow and ice up there. It was referred to as the home of the first human "Naiteru-kop",  associated with the beggining of creation. 

As there was a belief that the Engai is a creator of everything, Maasais treated wild and also domestic animals with the respect. The maasais didn't hunt wild animals. The large herds of wild animals and zebras roamed their plains for centuries in peace. The birds were never eaten but some of them were killed by maasais because the feathers were using as head ornaments taking place especially on the ceremonies and as the headdresses for newly circumcised boys. 

The snakes had specific place in Maasais belief, that's why snakes were not killed by Maasais in the past. The Maasai believed that certain prominent men returned after their deaths back to the world as the black pythons. However the respect to animals as to the creation of the Engai was high, the lions were still hunted by young Maasai men for getting the prestige and respect. Partly the young Maasai men were killing dangerous wild animals to protect their homes(bomas). 

One of the most interesting myths is the Myth about Origin of Cattle. 

The God - Engai had a residence in the sky and he owned all the cattle. But one day the earth and thy sky had separated, so the Engai was not longer  connected directly to people on the earth. But the cattles needed the grass from the earth to be feeded, that's why Engai sent all the cattle to the earth to Maasais. The cattle was sent to the earth through the roots of the sacred fig tree and Maasai people were asked by Engai to look after the cattle. Since then the Maasais have to take care of the cattle for God and since then Maasai have belief that all the cattle of Earth belongs to them. 

Next famous one is The Legend of Red and Black God.

According to the legend there are to depictions of the Engai:

Engai Narok - black, good and benevolent, loving people

Engai Na-nyokie - red, angry and mean, doesn't like people

In the mythological tale about the Black and Red God is describing the relationship of these Gods to people. 

The Black God was very friendly to people, kind, humble and loving.

The Red God was mean, malevolent and he didn't care about the people.

Both of those Gods were living in heaven but Black God was living below the Red God and that's why he was closer to the people on the earth. One day there was big hunger among the People of Earth. Everyone was starving. There was neither food nor water for the people. Also all the cattle was in big danger of starvation. The good Black God was feeling with people and he wanted to give them at least some water. But the Red God didn't want that and he didn't agree. After many tries the Black God convinced him, so the Red God finally agreed. Water was released from the heaven to earth and it was raining for many days. Then the Red God told that it's enough water for people. The black God didn't want that rain to stop, because the earth after long time of starvation was very dry. So raining continued for more days until the Red God again pressed black one to stop the rain. Black God was still not satisfied with amount of the water on the earth and he didn't want to stop the rain. This led to an big argument between these two Gods.

The Red God didn't like people, he saw them as spoiled and he even wanted to kill them. But the Black God wanted to protect the people and he tried to stop Red God from causing destruction on them. Since then Maasais believe if there is a loud thunder on the sky - these two Gods are fighting because of people and the Red God is currently winning the battle. But when the thunder is not very loud - then the Black God is winning, trying to prevent the Red God from causing the destruction.

Regarding of the weather the Maasais believe that's is interventions of Engai. Rain means blessing from the God, drought is displeasure. Thunder and lightning is anger, rainbow is an approval and comets on the sky means bad luck for people who saw it. 

So, this is few myths and legends about the Engai and about the Belief of Maasai people. 

But how is that in Maasai community today ? Are they still the original Maasais as tousands years ago ? 

They don't care about animals with respect. Look only on dogs near the maasais bomas. Maasais are treating dogs with hatred, they kick them without any reason, dogs have fear to go closer to the maasai because they know, they will be hurt for no reason. Dogs stay away, holding a distance from Maasai people. About the snakes the same story. When the Maasai sees the snake, he will kill that snake for each costs. They don't even know which snake is dangerous for them and which is not, they are just killing all the snakes around, they hate them. They like the cattle because cattle today means for the maasais the wealth and richness. The cows have big value in the way of money. They are expensive and maasai have a lot of money in the cows. But they beat them with sticks and you can't see the big respect even to cows or other cattle, it's just for them the way how to hold and double money. The donkeys are used by Maasai people to carry heavy things (for example the buckets full of water). 

Maasais are religious people, they believe in the God, (at least they will tell you this). Women with children are going to church often, spending there all the free time, all the maasai songs which people are singing in the church are about God. The Maasai priest is respected person in the community of Maasais, also Maasai beachboys are wearing different jewelry with the symbol of Christianity. But then the question is needed - WHY they are BRAVE enough to make the crimes and they are not scared from punishment of God ? 

Only they know why. But there is an explanation how we can understand all that. 

As we told here already, Maasais are religious and they are living under very modified Christianity. What was an effort of the missionaries who visited Maasai land many years ago but they gave up to press Maasais to take a Christianity exactly as Bible said. Maasais are and always were stubborn and they only do what they want and what is the best for them. The original Christianity is  different than what are Maasais doing. Maasais are ALWAYS trying to make all the rules inside of their community in the way how it will be the BEST FOR THEM. Not for others. They don't care for others. It has to be always the best and most effective just for them only. They are very selfish in the way of coexistence with other people outside their tribe. They had changed all the rules as they needed and wanted and that's all and if not like they want - then better nothing. So, they can take the rule from outside but they always adapt it to their own needs, wishes and goals. They adapt it to their own belief  ignoring outside world or origins of the source. For example polygamy. It's not the rule of Christianity, but Maasai put it there because they like to live and they need to live  polygamous life. That's why the polygamy is not any sine. Easy. Bible is saying something different? WHO CARES... The Christian culture inside of Maasai community is very modified. Exactly as they wanted. Maasais never look at others, they always do only what they want and nothing else.

And in the same way - there is a rule. The rule is - to hurt white people - to steal money from them - to use them in bad way and to lie to them - it's not any crime and Engai will understand it because only Maasais are people of Engai, those who are chosen. Others are not important. Neither for Maasais nor for their Engai. That's why they don't feel any fear to be punished by their God for crimes they are daily doing on white people (or on other people around) and that's why they don't feel any empathy with others. They deeply believe once it's about the better life for Maasai people - everything is allowed by the Engai. 

It's not allowed to hurt Maasai people. To make crimes in the own Maasai community is a sin which will be and can be punished. By Maasai court or by the Engai himself. That's why they respect each other, because they have to. But white people are not the equal to Engai as Maasai people are, that's why all the robberies, cheatings, usage, abusing, is allowed, it can't be and it won't be punished and this behavior is widely tolerated, supported and respected among the whole Maasai community, nobody really cares about white people or about Swahili. Because the goal behind is to make life of Maasai people better, then the tools how to reach that goal is not important. Not for them and especially not for their Engai. That's why so many maasais are making crimes on white people and they are not scared from punishment of their God at all.

It means only two things:

1. The Maasai don't believe in any God anymore - that's why they are not afraid. All the churches there and crosses in the ears is a farce.

2. It's like we described it already. The rules are modified and sin can be only very specific action committed against the Maasai ONLY.

AT THE END THE RED GOD FROM THE LEGEND WAS RIGHT. PEOPLE ARE SPOILED AND THEY DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING GOOD. THE MAASAIS SHOULD BE THE PEOPLE OF GOD BUT THEY ARE NOT - FOR SURE NOT TODAY.

Sources: 

1: Engai: God of the Maasai <https://artsandculture.google.com/story/engai-god-of-the-maasai/JQWhJMlxe9QNKQ>