Engilakinoto is call-and-response performing art form sung without instrumental accompaniment. A olaranyani (song leader) initiates the melody, and the chorus responds in unison, often with layered rhythms, deep throat-based chanting, and harmonies, while executing slow, leaning dance moves.

The lyrical content of Engilakinoto is a vast repository of Maasai oral tradition covering a wide range of themes, from recounting historical narratives and reinforcing social norms to expressing emotion and depicting the Maasai pastoral lifestyle and relationship with nature.

Children learn the chants by participating in community gatherings and ceremonies from a young age, and many types of song and dance are performed specifically by young people. While the tradition is deeply rooted in ancestral knowledge, it is a living art form that adapts to contemporary life.