Interviewer(s): I004
Interviewee(s): P454

I004: Mother, how are you?

P454: I am fine and you?

I004: I am also fine, Mother I would like to know your age?

P454: I am 40 years old.

I004: What was the major event happened in your community by the time you were born may be your parents told you if something happened?

P454: There was drought,

I004: And what else happened?

P454: They told me there was a big ceremony when I was born.

I004: Which Village were you born and grew up?

P454: Melela.

I004: Melela in which district?

P454: Mvomero District.

I004: And it is in which ward?

P454: Kolola Ward.

I004: Mother I would like to know your family structure when you were living with your parents? I mean were you living in the same house father, mother and children in your own house, or was it father, mother and children in the same homestead, or were you living father, mother, children, grandfather, grandmother and cousins and things of that sort.

P454: We were living in one homestead with several houses and I was living with my father, mother and my siblings.

I004: So were you eating together as family or how was it?

P454: We were eating together as family.

I004: Only you family or with other relative?

P454: It was only our family.

I004: I would like to know when you were young you what were your parents economic activities so as they could earn a living?

P454: They were pastoralist only.

I004: Which responsibilities or duties were for the men in your family by that time?

P454: Boys duty were to look after the cattle’s taking them to graze only

I004: What about Men in your family like father what was his responsibilities?

P454: He was responsible for his family affairs like to provide food for his family.

I004: Apart from providing food for his family what else did he do?

P454: He was working in order to earn an income.

I004: Apart from working and providing food what was his other duties and responsibilities?

P454: He was doing farming and rearing of animals.

I004: When you were born were Maasai involved in farming?

P454: No, Maasai were not involved in farming.

I004: So, your father was involved in what?

P454: He was selling cows so as to buy maize and other foodstuff for the family.

I004: And what were the responsibilities of your mother or women?

P454: Household chores like cooking, washing utensils, cleaning house fetching water and fetching firewood.

I004: And what about female children what were their main responsibilities?

P454: Fetching firewood, cooking, sweeping the ground and helping the mother in other household chores.

I004: Was there any one in your family, who went to school at that time?

P454: No.

I004: Mother when you were young can you tell me how you’re eating like was? What kind of food were you eating?

P454: We used to drink milk most of the time whether is fermented milk or fresh milk and sometimes we used to eat ugali.

I004: What kind of food were you eaten rarely when you were young?

P454: Rice and vegetables.

I004: Which type of food was prepared for special people only may be you prepare a special food for children or visitors or mothers?

P454: Sometimes kande was prepared when we had visitors?

I004: Where did your family get the food from?

P454: We were buying them.

I004: What about food from the wild or forest?

P454: Yes there are wild fruits that children used to eat them are called furu, mkole they are so many.

I004: Okay tell me what else?

P454: There are many but I know them in Maasai language like iloma, Elgomu.

I004: Mother when you were young who was making decision on what to be bought in your family?

P454: My father.

I004: And by the time you were young who else was making decision together with the father?

P454: The mother.

I004: And whose money was used to buy food?

P454: My father’s money.

I004: Mama you told me you were born in Melela Village isn’t?

P454: Yes.

I004: So in your Melela community how did you know when a girl has matured and was there an initiation ceremony like the dances or what are the things or indicator of her maturity?

P454: You will see the breasts developing are like the breasts are becoming big and also she will become big then she will be initiated to adulthood.

I004: And what about boys what were the signs or indicators that he is now are mature man?

P454: He becomes tall and big.

I004: Do men have initiation ceremony?

P454: Ohh yes even men are danced for just like women.

I004: And at what age are the boys initiated to adulthood?

P454: When they are 15- 16 years.

I004: And what about girls?

P454: Still the same 15-16 years.

I004: What if she reaches 16 years and her breast is not big will she be danced for?

P454: Yes, she will be danced for.

I004: You normally count the years or you look at the changes in his/her body structure?

P454: Changes in their body structure. There are some who grows very fast.

I004: What about you how did you know that you are now a mature girl what were the signs?

P454: By then there were no schools so I saw my breast became big and I started my menstruation period.

I004: Mother, you told me that you were born in Melela and when did you came to Mela?

P454: I have six years now.

I004: What made you to come to Mela?

P454: We bought land here in Mela so we decide to come here and rear our livestock.

I004: And who else are you living with in your household?

P454: It is me, my children, my husband and my co-wife.

I004: Do you live in the same house with your co wife?

P454: No, she has her own house.

I004: How old is your co-wife?

P454: She is younger than me she is about 22years old.

I004: Which activities do you engage yourselves in order to earn a living?

P454: Livestock rearing; we rear cattle, goats and chicken.

I004: What about when you were living with your parents what kind of livestock were you rearing?

P454: Cattle and goats.

I004: What about chicken? I was told in the past Maasai were not rearing chicken is that so?

P454: They were there but for sale not for consumption.

I004: What made you to eat chicken nowadays?

P454: I do not know may be people are changing I thinks we are somehow enlightened because nowadays were eating eggs, chicken we even sell chicken.

I004: What is it that made you change?

P454: May be because we interact with Swahili people.

I004: Is there any difference in your lifestyle nowadays as compared with the past when you were living with your parents?

P454: Yes there is, because when I was living with my parent I was a child depending on my parent but now I am a mother with children who depend on me so my responsibilities has increased.

I004: Are there any side affects you got from these changes in your lifestyle?

P454: No there is no any bad effect?

I004: And what about benefits?

P454: There are so many benefits, the fact that you’re living in your house with your husband and children, you have your own cows and goats, you can do your own things without depending on your parents.

I004: What are the duties and responsibilities of men and women in your household starting with men?

P454: Men main responsibilities is to provide for the family so he must work and our main source of income is selling of livestock so he we will sell the cow or goats so as to cater for the family.

I004: And what are the duties and responsibilities of women in your household, now that you are two what are your responsibilities?

P454: Household chores like washing dishes, cooking, feeding and bathing our children, fetching water and firewood.

I004: Do you think lifestyle changes have caused differences in the duties and responsibilities of women of nowadays as compared to responsibilities of women in the past?

P454: It is still the same.

I004: What about Men are any difference on duties and responsibilities of men of nowadays and in the past?

P454: No, the there is no differences.

I004: Most of people in Mela are now involved in farming are your household also involved in farming?

P454: Yes we are growing Maize, vegetables.

I004: You told me earlier that you were not farming but now you do farming, is there any benefit you got out of these lifestyle changes.

P454: Yes, before we were buying food but now we grow our own food so it is a benefit to us.

I004: How many children do you have?

P454: Two children.

I004: And how old is your first child?

P454: He is 20 years old.

I004: What are his duties and responsibilities here at home?

P454: He is still in school.

I004: So what are his duties here at home?

P454: Mhh may be my husband will tell him to go and look after the cattle when he is available.

I004: Mother, do you have a daughter.

P454: No, I don’t.

I004: Okay, and what about your co-wife does she have a daughter?

P454: Yes but she is still young.

I004: Mother when we were here before we were told nowadays people of Mela changed the food they eat these days they eat fish, chicken, eggs and even chips enriched with eggs and the way they prepare the food has also changed nowadays they fry most of the food unlike in the past were most of the food were boiled so mother I would like to know if you have seen or experienced these changes in the way food is prepared, or changes on the feeding habits or changes on the types of food?

P454: Yes there are changes, in the past we used to boil meat or vegetables everything was boiled but nowadays we know how to fry meat.

I004: What are the reasons for these changes?

P454: Nowadays we are enlightened we know God, we pray and you know the word of God open up your mind,

I004: Apart from knowing God what else has changes you’re eating lifestyle?

P454: Mhhhh.

I004: Do you think interaction with of other tribes can contribute to the changes in your eating lifestyle?

P454: Because nowadays we are interacting with Swahili people?

I004: So what have you learnt from Swahili people?

P454: We have learnt how to prepare good food, eating variety of food, hygiene.

I004: What about availability of food do you think it has contributed to the changes of your eating lifestyle?

P454: No.

I004: What about price of food do you think it has contributed to the changes of your eating lifestyle?

P454: No.

I004: What about availability of firewood may be?

P454: No.

I004: Mother you have mentioned so many reasons including religion, interaction with other tribes, and availability of food so which among these reasons is the first one?

P454: I think education and drought also contribute to these changes.

I004: Okay Mother, among religion, education, drought, and interaction with other tribe which is the major reason that contribute to the changes in your eating lifestyle?

P454: Mhhh

I004: How have these changes affected you and your family: starting with men, a male child, you and a girl child?

P454: No.

I004: There are no changes that had occurred?

P454: No,

I004: What about low production of milk?

P454: Low production of milk has affected us you know we like taking milk so nowadays we do not have enough milk for our children and also adults, you know our children even if they have ugali with vegetable they will request for milk.

I004: So how has your traditions and culture affected with these changes in the eating lifestyle?

P454: It has not affected us.

I004: What are the benefits that you got out of these changes?

P454: Nowadays you eat food and you feel satisfied.

I004: What kind of food you eat and feel satisfied?

P454: Like rice and meat.

I004: In the past were you eating rice and meat?

P454: Yes were eating meats but not rice.

I004: Mother I would like to know if milk is important to you?

P454: Yes.

I004: Why is it important?

P454: Because when you eat ugali with fresh milk or fermented milk you get filled up quickly.

I004: How is milk important to your body?

P454: It is important because you will be healthy and boost your blood counts

I004: How is milk important to your family?

P454: Because children are satisfied when they take milk.

I004: Mother I would like to know if milk is less important or important or very important to your family?

P454: Milk is very important to Maasai because if we do not take milk our body is weakened.

I004: When we were here last February people told us that milk is not available as it is used to be and also there changes in price I would like to know what the cause’s unavailability of milk is?

P454: Drought is the reason why we do not have milk,

I004: How does drought causes unavailability of milk?

P454: Milk is not available during dry season because there is no pasture for cows to feed on.

I004: What is another reason?

P454: cows move to a far place looking for pastures so that makes us not to milk them.

I004: Mother I would like to know who is responsible for buying food in your household?

P454: My husband.

I004: And who is going to the market to buy food?

P454: Me (Mother)

I004: And what type of food do you normally buy?

P454: Rice, vegetables, maize flour.

I004: And who is making decision on amount of money to be used to buy food?

P454: My husband.

I004: And who else is involved?

P454: Me (mother)

I004: Who has the final decision on the amount of money to be spent on foodstuff?

P454: My husband.

I004: Which type of food does your husband normally buy at the market?

P454: He buys maize and mill then then he brought flour home.

I004: What about vegetables and beans, who normally make decision of buying them?

P454: It is my husband who gives me money to buy vegetables.

I004: If you compare the distance form your place to the market and your parents’ house to the market which one is far?

P454: My parents’ house to the market is very far and those days we did not have transport like now.

I004: Which types of food were available those days but are not available in the market nowadays?

P454: Mhhh.

I004: What about cow fats were they available in the markets during those days?

P454: No.

I004: And what about ghee?

P454: No.

I004: I would like us to discuss about food preparation, which type of food do you prepare for your family?

P454: I prepare ugali, green vegetables and milk.

I004: What about rice, cassava, bananas and potatoes?

P454: Yes we prepare cassava and have them with tea in the morning.

I004: What is it that influences you to cook the type of food you cook for your family?

P454: You just decide to eat a particular food example you ate ugali yesterday then you may decide to eat rice today.

I004: What else influences you?

P454: If you can afford to buy the food you can prepare the food for your family.

I004: And what is another reason?

P454: I think if you have money you can buy the food you want.

I004: Between affordability and your decision to eat a particular food, what influences you most?

P454: I think if you feel like eating a particular food you buy and eat with your family.

I004: What about easiness of preparing that particular food?

P454: No.

I004: Okay mother, we have completed that part, we are coming to another part which is concerned with the strategies and ways of withstanding food shortage, have you ever experienced food shortage both when you were living with you parents and now you have your own home?

P454: Yes.

I004: When was it?

P454: It was during dry season.

I004: Which year?

P454: Mhh I do not remember the year.

I004: Which type of food was not available?

P454: Even Ugali we were not eating every day, there are some days we did not have food so we used to drink milk and sleep.

I004: Which months was that?

P454: September, October, November.

I004: How long did it last?

P454: I do not remember, it was the time I was living with my parents.

I004: What about the entire Melela community did they also experience food shortage?

P454: Yes.

I004: What was the main reason for the food shortage?

P454: It was drought; the rains did not come on time.

I004: How did your family overcame the situation?

P454: My father used to go out there and seeking for food.

I004: What was he doing so that he can get food for the family?

P454: He used to sell cows and buy food for the family he did not have any other job.

I004: What about slaughtering a cow so that you can get food?

P454: Eeeeh

I004: How many times?

P454: Few times: it was once in a while.

I004: And when there was a food shortage, how was your feeding like both children and adult in your household?

P454: Children were eating in the morning and afternoon: in the morning they were having milk then in the afternoon they eat ugali with milk and as for adult they were having fermented milk in the morning and also ugali in the afternoon

I004: During dry season when there was a food shortage how was you feed like; did you eat less or it was just normal as compare when there is plenty of food.

P454: When there is plenty of food they eat thrice a day and when there is shortage of food they eat twice a day.

I004: Who was the main victim of hunger?

P454: My husband.

I004: Why him?

P454: Because he is the one who is providing food for us so he must work hard so that he can be able to provide food for the family.

I004: Were you able to borrow food from your neighbour?

P454: Yes, we used to do that.

I004: Which type of food did you normally borrow?

P454: Maize flour.

I004: What about going to the forest to pick wild vegetable?

P454: No.

I004: Was your husband working in exchange of food?

P454: No.

I004: What about exchanging food with other people example you exchange a cow with maize flour?

P454: No.

I004: And now that you have your own home when did you experience food shortage?

P454: When it was dry season.

I004: Which year?

P454: Last year (2016)

I004: From which month did you experience food shortage?

P454: From January February and March.

I004: For how long did it last?

P454: Six months.

I004: What was the reason for food shortage?

P454: Rain did not fall on time.

I004: And what is another reason?

P454: No, It is only that.

I004: So what measures did you take to overcome hunger?

P454: It is only my husband who sold the cows and bought maize.

I004: You told me your children are in school, do you think that is the reason for taking them to school?

P454: No.

I004: What about you doing small businesses so as to earn money to buy food?

P454: No.

I004: What measures did you take to overcome hunger now as compared to when you were living with your parents?

P454: Yes it is different, at least now you can get food not like when I was in my father’s house.

I004: I am talking about measures that you took to get food you told me last year you sold cows to buy maize so what did you do then to overcame hunger?

P454: It is the same.

I004: Thank you Mother for your good answer.

P454: Thank you.

I004: Mother, what do you know about nutrition, eating lifestyle and good health, how has people of Mela get to know about the nutrition, healthy eating lifestyle so as to have good health?

P454: We have not heard of any?

I004: Mhh, you have not heard of nutrition, good health?

P454: No.

I004: Did you ever gone to the clinic when you were pregnant and after delivery of the baby?

P454: Yes, they told us so many things including eating healthy food.

I004: Apart from clinic were else did you hear about nutrition, healthy lifestyle?

P454: There is no any other place.

I004: What about schools?

P454: They teach our children.

I004: Did your children told you about what they were taught in school and sometimes advice you to cook a certain food?

P454: Sometimes they say sometimes they forgot.

I004: What about your family where did you get the information about nutrition and healthy eating lifestyle?

P454: We have heard from people who come to our homes.

I004: What did they tell you?

P454: They ask what we normally eat.

I004: And then what do they do or say?

P454: Nothing.

I004: You mean they do not advice you?

P454: They ask you and leave they did not tell us anything.

I004: The information what you have received so far are they useful to you?

P454: Yes it is important because you now I know if you eat good food and if you eat variety of food you will be healthy.

I004: Where did you hear that information?

P454: From people who normally comes to talk to us.

I004: Do you think this information is useful to you?

P454: Yes,

I004: How?

P454: Because we know if you eat this kind of food is good for your health.

I004: How can the information reach out to you, how do you think it should be conducted so that people of Mela can get this information about nutrition and healthy eating lifestyle?

P454: May be they should conduct seminar and teach us.

I004: Who is supposed to conduct the seminar so that all of you can get the knowledge, do you think village chairman should conduct the seminar or Ward executive officer or village secretary?

P454: Even Ward executive officer we will appreciate.

I004: What about you’re Maasai Leader?

P454: It is okay even him?

I004: Between your Maasai leader and Ward executive officer who you will all be comfortable to deliver the information.

P454: I think our Maasai leader will be good because he will teach us both in Kiswahili and in Maasai language so it will be good because most of us will understand him.

I004: What about health centres?

P454: Even there is okay because if you go to the hospital you will get the information.

I004: What if we broadcast it in the radios?

P454: Yes, it is okay because we normally listen to the news

I004: And what of churches?

P454: Even Churches we will get the information because we go to church every Sundays.

I004: So between churches, health centres, and radios where can we do it so that most of you can get information?

P454: Health centres.

I004: What about churches?

P454: Yes, churches.

I004: Between churches and your Maasai leaders whom do you trust will deliver the information?

P454: Pastor.

I004: Thank you very much for your time we have to the end of our interview.

P454: You are welcome.