East African Peoples

East Africa is a region of many peoples, including Maasai communities in Kenya and Tanzania and their neighbours across the Horn of Africa. Their clothing and body decoration vary widely, from beadwork and ear ornaments to hairstyles and permanent markings.

Maasai beadwork is especially striking. Small beads become broad necklaces, head ornaments and carefully arranged patterns. Pieces can express age and social relationships, but their colours do not form one fixed code used everywhere.

Hair, ochre and ear ornaments add further detail. Older accounts also describe gum pigmentation and facial markings in parts of the region. These practices belonged to particular places and periods; beadwork is only one part of a much wider history of adornment.

Dress also changed with the occasion. A warrior, a married woman and someone joining a ceremony might appear very differently. Cattle keeping, family life and celebrations all helped shape what people wore and how they decorated their bodies.