I help a Maasai moran look taller when he wears me. A typical Maasai is tall and lean. But, with the plumes of the male ostrich in my headdress, it makes a man look about two feet taller. I give the moran confidence so that he looks as fierce as he feels. Maasai warriors were noted for their fearlessness in battle.
Most pastoralist groups go through several defined stages as they pass through life.
Important rituals and ceremonies mark the beginning of each stage. Nomadic people are often separated and scattered over hundreds of square miles of land in order for each family to have enough pasture and water. A strong set of customs are important to solidify their identity as a group. There is identity by age as well as group. Each age set helps a man define the roles he should play at each stage of life.