Nachocho — an example of the change of the living sphere of the Maasai of Northern Tanzania

The example of Nachocho's enkang shows the recent socio-economic changes taking place in the southern Maasai Steppe of N Tanzania. The initial point is the traditional living community in the enkang and the form of pastoralism which are the basis of the economic and social security systems of the Maasai. The state land use policy, however, leads to the strong restriction of the grazing potential. In order to secure land titles for themselves, the Maasai try to pursue agropastoral activities, although they have had, until recently, no contact or experience with farming at all. In this transitional situation, their old pastoral economic basis is strongly endangered, although no useful alternative has been found, so far. For the Maasai of the Tanzanian Steppe a process of impoverishment is thus being triggered off.