Guardians of Nature
Paulo Mollel on the Maasai Relationship with the Land, Animals, and Sky
In the rolling green mountains of Ngorongoro, northern Tanzania, the Maasai people live in deep connection with the natural world. For Paulo Mollel, respected elder and cultural leader of Misigiyo Ward, nature is not a backdrop — it is kin, guide, protector, and teacher. In a recent conversation with HumanCulture’s founder Stephanie, Paulo shared the Maasai view of living with the land, animals, and the cosmos.
“No Maasai can go and stay alone,” Paulo explained. “It is not a Maasai nature. We build big villages, with gates, and every family is together. Naturally, we are people who support each other.”
This sense of relationship extends not only between people, but also between the Maasai and the world around them.
Living With Wildlife
For Maasai people, encounters with lions, leopards, hyenas, and elephants are part of normal every day life.
“Since I was born, I grew up with these animals. Sometimes the lion attacks our cattle, or a leopard takes a goat. We defend them — it is normal for us,” Paulo said.
The Maasai distinguish between “wise” animals, like elephants and gazelles, and “dangerous” animals, like lions. Yet respect runs through their worldview. “We do not eat wild animals. We live together. Even zebras, giraffes, and doves — we respect them very much,” Paulo shared.
In fact, certain clans honor specific animals, such as baboons or doves, as sacred symbols tied to ancestral stories. For the Maasai, to harm these animals would be to break the balance of life.
The Dove as Messenger
One of the most moving stories Paulo shared was about the dove.
“Long ago, after God destroyed the earth with water, the dove came with green grass in its mouth and dropped it on Maasai land. From that, Maasai followed the rain and the pastures. That is why we never kill the dove. It is a messenger from God.”
Moon, Stars, and Rain
The natural world above is just as important as the land below.
“If there is no rain, there is no life,” Paulo said simply. “Rain is Maasai life, because our cattle depend on grass, and grass depends on rain.”
The moon, meanwhile, is considered a friend of the cattle, providing light at night to keep predators away. And the stars serve as both calendar and guide. Paulo described special stars known as Inca, which disappear for eight days before returning to the sky. Their reappearance signals the right time for ceremonies such as circumcision rites and blessings.
“The stars tell us when to prepare. They show us when it is a peaceful and blessed time,” Paulo explained.
Another star, Killer Ken, is the morning star, used to tell time before sunrise. “We do not have watches, so the stars are our clock,” he said.
Sacred Mountains
The mountains, too, are holy places. Paulo described how the Maasai climb to their peaks to speak to God, bringing offerings of sheep, honey, milk, and grass.
“We believe the presence of God is on the top of the mountain. That is why we respect them. Even to set a fire or destroy a mountain forest is very bad,” he explained.
When rains are delayed, elders and women climb together to pray for water. When women face infertility, ceremonies are held at the mountain to seek blessings for children. These sacred gatherings weave prayer, sacrifice, and community into the natural order.
Closing Reflection
In Paulo’s words, the Maasai way of life is inseparable from nature. From animals to rain, from stars to mountains, everything is part of one living relationship. It is a worldview that sees the earth not as resource, but as family.
As Paulo told us, “Nature is our life. Without it, there is no Maasai.”
Elder Paulo Mollel sharing stories with his fellow elders
