Ritual Analysis: The Maasai Children

The Maasai children go through things as they grow up that symbolize their rites of passage. At four years old, the Maasai children go through getting their lower incisors removed with a knife. The Maasai boys show their strength by putting hot coal on their arms and legs. Once they are older the children will get tattoos that are life small cuts on their body. Ear piercing by hot iron is done on every gender. Once healed the lobe is stretched further and further. This is believed to be the bigger the better.
Maasai boys go through a ceremony called Enkipaata. This is a ceremony before circumcision. This ritual is only done after the boy has settled down. This is shown by the boy traveling for four months announcing where he is in the age-set.