ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the nature of a construction, including the structuring of ritual and opportunities to use ritual to challenge perceived hegemonies, before moving on to examine the place of music in ritual as signifier and exemplifier. It draws on the experiences and researches and on the writings of Western and Maasai authors. The chapter draws on a concept analysis of the texts of some songs, sung by males and females, to enable an investigation of the relationships between song texts, musical components and cultural contents. Alongside the organisation of groups is a system of age-sets which go across families and clans and iloshon. The importance of initiation is clear not only in etic observation of ritual process and dependent upon initiation, but in the daily conversation and activities of the Maasai themselves. The elements of rebellion are essentially against the elders, Ilmurran feel the need to rebel partly because of their attraction towards the married women.
