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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: France
Posts: 473
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I'm not sure it is Masai, they have 2 kinds of spears you can see them on my website :http://lulef.free.fr/html/masai.html
Tutsi in Rwanda have spears like yours. Nice acquisition. Luc |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 178
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my massai blade
galvano |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,893
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I think Luc might have put his finger on it. Here is a picture of a Angoni warrior, a branch of South African {Zulu?} people that were raiding neighboring people around lake Tanganyika and towards Nyassaland. Note the similar all steel spear. Tim
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
Posts: 2,658
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Thankyou for all your replies. I wasn't convinced that the spear was Masai, due to the spear blade's shape. I had tried to research the Masai initiation ceremonies but could find no reference to boys using such ceremonial spears.
Unfortunately, it seems nearly 'every' spear I have seen is often falsely described as either Zulu or Masai, to enhance the price. However, this spear is well crafted, old and of interest. I would like to 'nail' the origin of the spear. Thankyou Tim, again, for your Knowledge of African weapons, could you suggest any books on the subject? (ie knives, swords and spears). |
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#5 | |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 58
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#6 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
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THE YOUNG MASAI DO DRESS IN A SPECIAL GARB AND OFTEN COVER THEMSELVES IN ASH OR SOMETHING WHICH MAKES THEM APPEAR WHITISH. THE ONES I HAVE SEEN HAD STICK SPEARS AND SHIELDS. I HAVE ONE OF THE SHIELDS AND DID NOT SEE ANY GROWN MASAI WITH SHIELDS SO I SUSPECT THEY ONLY HAVE A CEREMONIAL FUNCTION IN THEIR SOCIETY THESE DAYS. I DIDN'T SEE A BOW PERHAPS THEY ARE ONLY USED AND CARRIED AT CERTIAN TIMES AND PLACES. I'M JUST GUESSING AS I HAVE NEVER RESEARCHED THE MASAI, JUST READ A BIT HERE AND THERE AND HAVE SEEN THEM IN TANZINIA.
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium)
Posts: 830
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Luc, according to the book 'African Arms and Armour' by Christopher Spring, there are more types of Maasai spear.
This is what he writes in his book : The graded system of Maasai society is reflected by the four distinct types of spear commonly used by them. The uncircumcised boys usually carry a javelin-like spear, esururu, made out of one piece of rounded iron, sometimes with a leather hand grip bound around the centre. The head is sometimes hammered into an oval shape but often left straight. The butt is usually of square section. A couple of years ago, I happened to stumble onto such a spear. Here are some pics : ![]() ![]() ![]() This is not some kind of ceremonial item. It has a real good balance and is fairly heavy (all iron). I think it would do quite some damage when thrown at something or someone. The total length is approx 1m80 (72 inches) |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
Posts: 2,658
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I have searched on the internet and discovered this picture and discription in a Anthropology Collections website.
AFRICAN ETHNOGRAPHIC COLLECTION Culture: MASAI(MASSAI), WAHUMBA? Locale: WAHUMBA? Country: KENYA Material: WOOD,METAL(IRON),LEATHER Dimensions: L:170.2 W:5.7 [in CM] Donor: SCHIFF Acquisition Year: 1898 Spear (1/5533) Notice the spearhead shape, the central rib, and the date of acquisition 1898, Perhaps around this time this design spearhead / spear were more common? |
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