Third, the snow is so densely packed at the peak that the lower layers of snow cool the surface layer, counteracting the warming effects of the sun. Life in the shadow of Mount Kenya may defy our equatorial image, too. For a thousand years, the nomadic Maasai have shared their home with wildebeest, lion, and giraffe. More precious to the Maasai are the herds of cattle upon which their livelihood, wealth, and prestige depend. The Maasai villages are built with the materials at hand-mud, cow dung, and sticks.
Women are responsible for the construction of the family boma .
Life in the manyatta follows traditional patterns, and the roles of its members are clearly defined. Boys take care of the cattle, girls help their mothers, and elders enjoy their honored roles as village leaders. Although life in nearby cities offers modern conveniences, many Maasai prefer the path of their ancestors under the direct rays of the equatorial sun. Eyewitness visual dictionary of the earth. The dictionary of the earth.