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A Maasai Community Adorns a Bride Collection Insights December 11, 2003 3–4:30 pm SAM Third Floor Galleries

The bride’s costume is part of a collection assembled by Kakuta Hamisi, a Maasai student intern. The Maasai community he is from decided that funds from the museum should be used to build the first school to be run by Maasai teachers. Community members were asked to bring examples of art that they thought would represent the best of their culture. Women assembled this bride's outfit, which consists of 20 layers of beadwork, each with intrinsic messages attached. Kakuta has documented each object by interviewing its donor on videotape. His efforts have resulted in an unprecedented field collection that he has catalogued and coordinated for this exhibition.

When a woman is initiated and ready to join adult life, her mother and age mates dress her with many ornaments. As she moves toward marriage, her adornment becomes a community responsibility. Members of surrounding homesteads and relatives from far distances embrace the bride's beadwork. Among Maasai people their social beliefs and values are presented through these ornaments. The work is voluntary, all about community and definitely not individualism. It is a matter of give and get. The women's belief: today is my daughter's turn and tomorrow is your daughter's turn.

Photo is details of:
1. Small blue necklace (Emankeki kiti pus),
2. Small pattern necklace (Emankeki kiti oo muatat),
3. Blue and red necklace (Enkado arass),
4. Pattern necklace (Emankeki oo muatat),
5. Blue necklace (Emankeki pus),
6. Bull necklace (Norkiteng),
Kenya, Maasai, Kaputiei section, Merrueshi community
General Acquisition Fund, 2000.12.2-7

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