The Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania use the age grouping system to determine the age of a man or woman. Unlike in the west where the age of a person is determine by simply the day and year when someone was born, a Maasai man’s age is determined by the period he undergoes circumcision. Among the Maasai communities circumcision ceremonies takes place in large groups of about 15 to 100 and the people being circumcised together may have a two to five age difference. Depending on the age of a person, those who are circumcised first, will be classified as the right while those are circumcised late, they will be classified as the left. The group of Maasai who are for the right circumcision group are known as the Ilmanki, and the "left"- those circumcised later, are know as the Ilmaina. Each age-group kindles fire for the age-group, which is next, but one after them. For example, age-group "A" kindles fire for "C" or "B" kindles fire for "D" and so on.
Despite the different periods of circumcision, both the right and left age group is given one combined name in a special ceremony organized by the Maasai community after circumcision of many boys.
Although the Maasai people are divided into very many different clans, only two clans determine the age-set or age group. The two Maasai sections, which are responsible for these rituals are the
These are the age-sets, which are common among the Maasai people.
1. Irratanya
2. IIpetaa
3. Isalaash
4. Ilmeirishar
5. Ilkidotu
6. Iltuati
7. Ilnyankusi
8. Ilaimer
9. Iltalala
10. Iltuati
11. Iseuri average age is about 60 -65 years old
12. Illnyankusi on average 75 to 90 years old
13. Iltareto over 100 years old.
