Maasai Geometry I (Tanzania, Zanzibar)

Among Maasai women , beadwork is an ancestral skill passed down from mother to daughter, central to the cultural identity of this semi-nomadic community in East Africa. Each beaded piece of jewelry—necklace, bracelet, forehead band—is handcrafted with remarkable geometric precision and carries a symbolic message rooted in pastoral daily life.

The colors of the pearls follow a precise codification:
Red for courage and blood, essential for life (ritual slaughter, protection)
White for milk, symbol of purity and wealth
Blue for rain and sky, essential for the survival of livestock
Green for Mother Earth
Black for hardship and resilience

These coded motifs function as a living archive of values, life cycles, clan or marital affiliations. The shaved head, common among Maasai women, allows these adornments to be better highlighted, while affirming an aesthetic based on sobriety, balance and dignity .

Beadwork is performed in a seated position, often on woven mats, in communal spaces conducive to intergenerational transmission. Today, these jewels are also sold in local markets or by the sea in Zanzibar, where some Maasai women settle temporarily to support their families back on the mainland.