The Maasai were serious about their ear piercings
The Maasai tribe of Kenya has earned its reputation as a warrior tribe from people worldwide. The people of the Maasai tribe come from a bloodline that prides themselves in their culture rich in colors, customs, and their oneness with their surroundings and nature. These people practice vivid rituals that might seem disturbing to some who don’t understand their cultural significance. One such practice is body modification, more specifically earlobe stretching.
A ritual practiced by Maasai men and women, their earlobes are pierced when they are five years old. As the individual matures, these holes gradually widen with broader piercing objects, starting with minor piercings using sharp twigs or stones. Sometimes, elephant tusks are used for this purpose. One belief that backs this eerie practice is that more prominent earlobes are seen as symbols of wisdom and respect amongst the Maasai people.