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A simple, but rich life (B1-B2)

2033 Views 4 Liked Posted on: April 13th 2022

A simple, but rich life

Niveau B1-B2 (intermédiaire)

In the western world, we like to have things – a lot of things! The more we have, the happier we are. But are we? The truth is that we don’t need most of the things we own. We can be happy with less – a lot less, like the Maasai. 

The Maasai are a tribe of people in Tanzania. They live off their cattle. And they are nomadic because they must often move to greener pastures so their cattle can eat. This means that they don’t have a lot of possessions. Even their houses are temporary!

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© Magdalena Paluchowska / Shutterstock.com

The Maasai are an autonomous people. They can build their own huts everywhere they go. In Maasai culture, the women are responsible for building the round huts. The older generation passes the knowledge down to the younger women, and all women help to build the huts except for pregnant or elderly women. They are also in charge of renovations. But where do they get the material? 

All material is natural. The Maasai use branches, grass, wood, mud and a very important ingredient – cow dung. First, they build the frame by putting wood into the ground. Then, they weave small branches around the wood and cover it all with a mixture of water, mud and cow dung. After that, they begin working on the roof which is also glued together with cow dung and then covered with grass. The cow dung makes the roof waterproof. The women build the huts close together and enclose them with a fence made from thorns. The huts are only about 3 x 5 m in size and 1.5 m high, but they are functional and provide protection. Families sleep, cook, eat, and stock their reserves and small cattle in their huts. Imagine sleeping with a goat! 

Once you have your home, food, company and beautiful surroundings, what else do you need? We can learn a lot from the Maasai people about how to be self-sufficient and happy with what we have. 

If you would like more information on the Maasai and Tanzania, don’t miss out on English Now no121.

to own = être propriétaire de

like = (ici) comme

to live off = vivre de

cattle = bétail

knowledge = la connaissance

pregnant = enceinte

elderly = les personnes âgées

mud = de la boue

cow dung = de la bouse de vache

a frame = un cadre

to weave = tisser, tresser

glued = collé

waterproof = imperméable

thorns = épines

a goat = une chèvre

surroundings = environs

self-sufficient = autosuffisant

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© Magdalena Paluchowska / Shutterstock.com

Posted in: Travel, Culture

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