The Violations against the Maasai in the Morogoro region of Tanzania

Hanah Dubaisi

Pronouns: she/her

Research Mentor(s): Kelly Askew
Research Mentor School/College/Department: DAAS/Anthropology / LSA
Program: UROPF
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Authors:

Abstract

Spanning across the globe, an innumerable number of indigenous groups exist…”indigenous” meaning people pursuing ways of life that they value wish to sustain, but which are distinctive from mainstream lifestyles and often viewed negatively by others as “too traditional.”. In many cases, these groups are in a constant state of battle, struggling to obtain their natural rights as human beings, and especially in regards to fighting for their land. The Violations Against Indigenous Africa (VAIA) research team serves to shed light on human rights violations, specifically within Africa; spanning over 90 case studies across all regions of Africa. Oftentimes, society is unaware of such human crises because governments within these nations ensure that the world remains ignorant on said issues. The VAIA team, however, carefully facilitates case studies that delve deep into the history and ongoing ways that Indigenous people have had their rights violated, in order to bring awareness to Western society. All 90+ cases are compiled on our website “Indigenous Africa”, organized by nation and type of violation. VAIA focuses on land violations, as the connection between land and indigenous groups are especially important; used for ritual practices or to raise and move cattle- grazing land, a practice that is essential for the lifestyle of pastoralists (those who herd livestock). However, these individuals are more susceptible to the removal from their sacred land, through forced evictions and cattle removal. This description matches that of the Maasai of the Morogoro region, Tanzania, a case which I spent the better half of my time in VAIA updating. The Maasai of Tanzania are victims of land evictions by the local officials, leaving them with slim resources to be shared with farmers, often causing conflict between the two groups and no governmental interference to resolve what becomes violent clashes. As I have completed this update, I have begun my own research on the Tarangire National Park within Tanzania, also highlighting land removal and forced evictions in another region of Tanzania.

Humanities