Final answer:
The Maasai people view cattle as central to their culture and economy, representing wealth and playing a role in social customs. Kenya highlights the Maasai's unique livestock practices as a draw for tourism. Cattle hold deep symbolic significance to the Maasai, similar to other cultures that revere cattle for both economic and cultural reasons.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the Maasai View Cattle
The Maasai people, a pastoral society in Kenya, view cattle as a pivotal part of their culture and economy. To the Maasai, cattle represent wealth and are integral to their traditions and livelihood. This is not only because of their economic value in terms of providing milk, blood, and sometimes meat, but also because cattle play a crucial role in social functions such as marriage, where they are often given as part of the dowry. Far more than a source of food, cattle hold deep symbolic significance to the Maasai.
Kenya, recognizing the uniqueness of the Maasai culture, seeks to enhance its international tourism draw by highlighting the cultural diversity coexisting within its environmental attractions. The Maasai contribute significantly to this with their distinctive way of life and reverence for cattle.
From an anthropological perspective, like in some other cultures where animals are considered sacred, such as in India, the economic rationale for revering cattle is strong. While in India, cattle provide a multitude of resources and are better off alive for their various utilitarian purposes, in Maasai culture they play a similar role in that they provide a more sustainable form of wealth living than if they were simply slaughtered for meat. This underscores the Maasai's perspective that keeping cattle alive provides greater benefits due to the range of material assets they offer over their lifespan.