People and Culture
There are many groups of people who live in Africa's tropical grasslands because the habitat is great for farming and breeding. Here we will go over a few groups of people who thrive in the biome.
The Masai
The Masai people are made up of a collection of groups of people who live between Kenya and Tanzania who speak the same language and have similar cultures. They rely on sheep breeding, farming, and trade. They are famous for their fierce warriors who protect them. The people's diets include cow milk, raw meat, raw blood, some vegetables and fruits, honey, butter and flour. Masi people's culture is very prominent. They wear bright clothing and jewelry. Maxi people also shave their head as a sort of "new beginning" whenever a new stage of their live is upcoming. They also change their names at each different stage of life. They believe in two gods, one who is evil and brings drought, and one who is good and brings rain. Dance and music are very important parts of the Masai culture. The government in Africa try to push the Masai people away from their traditions, but many people still live and follow the Masai ways.
The Bushmen
The Bushmen people still practice old and ancient ways, making them an interest of anthropological studies. Their numbers used to be very high, but now there is only around a few hundred of them. The men hunt and the women and children collect seeds and roots. The Bushmen do not preserve their food, and eat their kills right away. They dress in simple tanned hides. Women are viewed with lots of respect and make lots of important decisions for their families. Since the dry season lasts so long, the Bushmen dig deep wells and carry their water in ostrich eggs. Scientists believe that the Bushmen tribes are one of the oldest civilizations on the earth, due to the discovery of a very divergent(old) Y chromosome that they carry. Government has relocated many Bushmen people, due to incoming farmers. Government has also banned hanging in their native areas, making life extremely difficult for the Bushmen.
Kikuyus
The Kikuyus are the largest ethnic tribe in Kenya making up 22% of the country's populations. Kikuyus don't live as tradition as some other groups might. A lot of Kikuyus have migrated to kenyan towns and became involved small businesses. Many of Kikuyus work farming crops like tea. They have adapted to many modern aspects of life today. In a lot of rural communities food include , Mukimo roast goat, beef, chicken and cooked green vegetables like collards, spinach, and carrots. Traditionally the Kikuyu language was spoken, but now it their third language coming after English and Swahili. With family and ceremonies a lot of kikuyus stick with their cultural traditions. Kikuyus traditionally believed in one god Ngai. Kikuyus believed he was the one who put a man and woman on earth called Kikuyu and Mumbi. They had nine daughters who married and brought the Kikuyu tube to life.