Masai Tribe

A selection of images from the masai tribe

Bead workers has a long history with the Masai tribe, who articulate their identity and place in society through their body ornaments and body painting. white beads were made from shell, ivory or bone. Black and blue beads were made from charcoal, iron or seeds. Red beads came from seeds, woods, gourds, bones, ivory, copper or brass. Late in the nineteenth century glass beads arrived in East Africa, so the beadworkers replaced the older beads with more brightly coloured ones.