Several Maasai rites of passage are to be protected by the UN's cultural body, Unesco, which has declared them "intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding".

Inclusion on the list attracts international support and co-operation thereby helping communities to conserve their cultural practices and traditions.

Three male rites of Kenya's Maasai community are to be given protected status - they are Enkipaata, the induction of boys leading to initiation, Eunoto, the shaving of the 'warriors' - known as morans - that paves the way to adulthood, and Olng’esherr, the meat-eating ceremony that marks the end of moranism and the beginning of eldership, Unesco said.

It added:

Respect and responsibility, safeguarding of the lineage, transfer of powers from one age set to the next and the transmission of indigenous knowledge, such as in relation to livestock rearing, conflict management, legends, traditions and life skills, are some of the core values embedded in those rites of passage.

However, while the rites still attract relatively sizeable crowds, the practice appears to be rapidly declining due to the fast emergence of agriculture as a main source of income, reforms of the land tenure system and the impact of climate change that affects the survival of cattle.

Also listed by Unesco as "in need of urgent safeguarding" in Thursdays' announcement are a form ofEgyptian hand puppetry and Algeria's water measurers, known as foggaras.