Gordwin Odhiambo

Photographer

Enkipaata

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Enkipaata initiates waits for the process of Enkipaata to begin. The young men ages between 12 and 16 years spent the night outside waiting to undergo the Enkipaata smearing stage of the initiation. Enkipata is one of the main important ceremonies in the Maasai cultural heritages. This first Maasai initiation right ,Enkipaata, is safeguarded by UNESCO.

Meoli Dokolo who is part of the...f Enkipaata early next morning.

Meoli Dokolo who is part of the Enkipaata initates waits for the smearing of a white substane, entoroto.The initiates spend a night out the filed before starting the process of Enkipaata early next morning.

A group of Maasai elders spearh...g the process of the Enkipaata.

A group of Maasai elders spearheading the formation of a new age-set; Enkipaata, performs a ritual prayer before beginning the process of the Enkipaata.

Maasai elders picks up white so...rocess of the initiation stage.

Maasai elders picks up white soil, entoroto ready to start the smearing process of the initiation stage.

A Maasai elder holds a white so...ata in Rombo area, Kilimanjaro.

A Maasai elder holds a white soil called Entoroto before starting the process of Enkipaata in Rombo area, Kilimanjaro.

The Enkipaata initiates are being smeared by a white

An Enkipaata initiates is being...th Entoroto during the ceremony

An Enkipaata initiates is being smeared with Entoroto during the ceremony

The Maasai Enkipaata initiates

The Maasai Enkipaata initiates going through the process of Enkipaata in Rombo area, Kajiado in Kilimanjaro.

The Maasai Enkipaata initiates.

The Maasai Enkipaata Initiates.

The initiate stride in lines as...e met by singing men and women.

The initiate stride in lines as they sing and chant as they head towards the emanyatta/homestead where they are met by singing men and women.

The Enkipaata initiates chant, ...meared with milk by the elders.

The Enkipaata initiates chant, sing and dance around the homesteads/emanyatta as they wait to be smeared with milk by the elders.

Young men taking the responsibi...munity and to fight for others.

Young men taking the responsibility of defending the community. During the initiation ceremonies the initiates are taught on how to be a leader of the family, the community and to fight for others.

The initiates continue singing,... as they suround the Emanyatas.

The initiates continue singing, dancing and chanting as they suround the Emanyatas.

The young men are being smeared...ilt specially for the ceremony.

The young men are being smeared on with milk by the elders before getting through the gates of the homesteads emanyatta, built specially for the ceremony.

During the Enkipaata initiation...keeping the initiates together.

During the Enkipaata initiations women accompany the initiates who can be as young as 10 years. They provide them with food and water. They also help the elders by keeping the initiates together.

Women sing and march as the you...nkipaata around the homesteads.

Women sing and march as the young men go through the process of Enkipaata around the homesteads.

Enkipaata initiates waiting fo...ssage of the Maasai community.

Enkipaata initiates waiting for the elders to guide them on what's next after going through the day's initiation process. The initiates will now be waiting for the next stages of the Maasai initiation which is Eunoto and Olng'esherr, the other two male rites of passage of the Maasai community.

Thumbnail of Enkipaata initiates waits for th_paata, is safeguarded by UNESCO.

Thumbnail of Meoli Dokolo who is part of the _of Enkipaata early next morning.

Thumbnail of A group of Maasai elders spearhe_ng the process of the Enkipaata.

Thumbnail of Maasai elders picks up white soi_process of the initiation stage.

Thumbnail of A Maasai elder holds a white soi_aata in Rombo area, Kilimanjaro.

Thumbnail of The Enkipaata initiates are being smeared by a white

Thumbnail of An Enkipaata initiates is being _ith Entoroto during the ceremony

Thumbnail of The Maasai Enkipaata initiates

Thumbnail of The Maasai Enkipaata initiates g_bo area, Kajiado in Kilimanjaro.

Thumbnail of The initiate stride in lines as _re met by singing men and women.

Thumbnail of The Enkipaata initiates chant, s_smeared with milk by the elders.

Thumbnail of Young men taking the responsibil_mmunity and to fight for others.

Thumbnail of The initiates continue singing, _g as they suround the Emanyatas.

Thumbnail of The young men are being smeared _uilt specially for the ceremony.

Thumbnail of During the Enkipaata initiations_ keeping the initiates together.

Thumbnail of Women sing and march as the youn_Enkipaata around the homesteads.

Public Project

Enkipaata

Updated Aug 2021

Topics Arts & Entertainment, Community, Culture stories, Documentary, Photography, Photojournalism, Portraiture

Enkipaata is one of the three main rights of passage of the Maasai community. During these three interrelated rites of passage, a group or age-set of Maasai boys pass together from being children to being morans (warriors), then adults, and then elders.
Enkipaata is also one of UNESCO's cultural intangible heritage.Young boys age 12 to 15 years from mostly East African countries gathered to commemorate this occasion.
Eight years later, Eunoto marks the passage into adulthood and the adoption of adult responsibilities, while Olngesherr marks the end of life as a moran and the beginning of eldership. Young morans are educated by Maasai elders through apprenticeship, mentorship, guidance, and frequent consultation.

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