Question

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A. Traditionally, the Maasai women build and maintain the household while men herd livestock.
B. Traditionally in the Maasai culture, head shaving symbolizes an important passage from one stage of life to another.
C. The Maasai are a seminomadic tribe that emerged from ancient Babylon and settled on the Euphrates River.
D. To the Maasai, cattle are sacred, religious symbols.

Answer 1

The false statement is C, which incorrectly claims that the Maasai originated from ancient Babylon and settled on the Euphrates River; they actually reside between Kenya and Tanzania.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that is FALSE among the provided options is: C. The Maasai are a semi-nomadic tribe that emerged from ancient Babylon and settled on the Euphrates River. The Maasai people are in fact a seminomadic group that reside in the border region between Kenya and Tanzania, not from Babylon. Maasai women traditionally are responsible for building and maintaining households, while Maasai men herd livestock. Head shaving in the Maasai culture signifies an important life transition, which makes statement B true. Statement D also holds true as cattle in the Maasai culture are indeed considered sacred and a sign of wealth.

Kenya's efforts to promote international tourism acknowledge the cultural diversity within the nation, including the Maasai culture, which is prominently featured due to its distinct attire, jewelry, and traditions that attract tourists. The pastoral society of the Maasai relies on cattle for their economy and indeed has a gender and age-based division of labor akin to other pastoralist societies, reaffirming the accuracy of statements A and B.