A Lip-Smacking Maasai Meat Dish

Joseph and Neema show how Ingiri, a traditional Maasai beef dish is cooked.

Beadwork of Maasai Culture (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

The Maasai are one of the oldest communities in the world, residing in Tanzania and Kenya. They were formerly nomadic, but over the years, they have found permanent settlements and become pastoralists. 

Feeding Calves (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

With livestock being a key component of their lifestyle, the community depends upon them for food and sustenance. Meat and milk, therefore, are the main source of food for the Maasai. 

Morans and Strength (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

Meat helps in building the body and giving strength to the Maasai, especially Morans (Maasai warriors) who often only have two meals a day, as their obligation is to graze cattle, goats and sheep during the day.

Neema and Joseph (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

Neema and Joseph, two young Maasai from the Losimingori village in Arusha, Tanzania show us how to make the Maasai cook meat, (here beef).

Elisha: Our translator (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

Elisha, our translator went to the Nanja market to buy the meat. 

The vegetables (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

The vegetables were bought in the market in Losimingiori village. They used onions, potatoes, green capsicum, tomatoes and lettuce.

Sharpened Knife (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

The knife is sharpened using a stone. The meat and vegetables are washed with water, peeled and then cut into small pieces.

Veggies in a pot (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

In a cooking vessel, they add tomatoes, onion, capsicum and beef, along with cooking oil. 

Make shift stove (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

Meanwhile, Neema prepared a make-shift stove using dry grass and firewood.

Add the potatoes (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

It is then put on the stove to cook for a while, before adding salt and potatoes.

Slow cooking (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

Once the meat releases its fat, the green leaves are added and covered to cook.

Ingiri, a traditional Maasai beef dish (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

The dish is now ready and shared by everyone.

Greens in Between (2021) by Vibhor YadavProject FUEL

The drought that the village faces has economically weakened the society. Therefore, the meat dish has now become a luxury for them. It is now consumed on very rare occasions, mostly celebrations.

A Lip-Smacking Maasai Meat Dish (2022) by Project FUELProject FUEL

Film Credit

Director: Surya Balakrishnan
Producer: Apoorva Bakshi and Deepak Ramola 
Associate Producer: Ayushi Jaiswal
Director of Photography: Sabit Tisekar 
Drone Cinematographer: Vibhor Yadav
Additional Cinematographer: Siddharth Govindan
Editor: Ajit K Nair
Assistant Editor: Akash Patel
Sound Designer and Mixer: Teja Asgk and Jubin Raj
Assistant Sound Designer and Mixer: Prince John Carelet
Colourist: Sanchita Sen

Credits: Story

Project FUEL would like to thank the Maasai community in the Losimingori village of Arusha, Tanzania for opening their hearts and home to this research. 

This exhibit is part of the Wise Wall Project, an initiative of Project FUEL, to document, design, and strengthen the wisdom of rural communities and marginalized villages using art and community outreach programs. In the third edition of this project, we collaborated with the Maasai, in Arusha, Tanzania, to build an on-ground community centre for the people and bring an exclusive insight into the life, lifestyle, and learnings of this inspiring community.

Photography: Vibhor Yadav, Siddharth Govindan
Wall Murals: Poornima Sukumar
Canvas Art: Advithi Emmi
Cultural Consultant and Translators: Kaay Ndoika Lengima, Elisha Olchakai Kirumui and Lemali Ndoika
Research, Interviews and Curation: Project FUEL
Project Partners: Vijana Inspiring Foundation, Vikram Solar Ltd., Lions Club of Dar es Salaam and Arusha, Google Arts & Culture

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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Maasai
A glimpse into their traditions and livelihoods.
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