Masai walking stick spear?

RomaRana · 13th July 2007, 06:17 PM

It is a fimbo. The fimbo is a Swahili term for a cattle herding stick and they are generally used all over East Africa. Carved artistic ones are used as walking sticks by elders and as impromptu weapons during council meetings.

The use of walking sticks has declined during the modern age but they are still used in many ceremonial functions. These new fimbos are known as vifimbo or staffs, they are part of the uniform of officers of the Tanzanian armed forces.

Presidents Nyerere of Tanzania and Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya almost always have one in sight during addresses.

It does indeed look like a carving of a Maasai woman although the nose looks much more bantu than Nilo-Hametic, so it is hard to say what group it comes from.

Cattle blood letting is only done with a special tiny bow and arrow.

I do not think the spear head was ment for the staff. It is generally considered bad form to thrust a spear head first into the ground, kind of like eating with your hands in the west.

katana · 14th July 2007, 11:32 AM

Thank you Vandoo and RomaRama for the additional information and comments. The carved 'end' seems to have been regularly handled, judging by the 'patina'......and would estimate that it is probably mid 20thc onwards. It seems that the spear head and stick were 'mated' sometime ago. Whether this was 'tribally done' or not, I do not know, Perhaps it was an 'invention born from necessitity', a spear head fitted to a Fimbo for self protection or the protection of cattle from ...say....snakes. Or as an 'interesting' item to sell to tourists.

If the latter.....it worked, as I too found it 'interesting'.

Bill M · 14th July 2007, 12:10 PM

I like it. Interesting piece.

http://tracelesswarrior.blogspot.com...ons-fimbo.html

13th July 2007, 06:17 PM	#1
RomaRana Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 58	It is a fimbo. The fimbo is a Swahili term for a cattle herding stick and they are generally used all over East Africa. Carved artistic ones are used as walking sticks by elders and as impromptu weapons during council meetings. The use of walking sticks has declined during the modern age but they are still used in many ceremonial functions. These new fimbos are known as vifimbo or staffs, they are part of the uniform of officers of the Tanzanian armed forces. Presidents Nyerere of Tanzania and Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya almost always have one in sight during addresses. It does indeed look like a carving of a Maasai woman although the nose looks much more bantu than Nilo-Hametic, so it is hard to say what group it comes from. Cattle blood letting is only done with a special tiny bow and arrow. I do not think the spear head was ment for the staff. It is generally considered bad form to thrust a spear head first into the ground, kind of like eating with your hands in the west.

14th July 2007, 11:32 AM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thank you Vandoo and RomaRama for the additional information and comments. The carved 'end' seems to have been regularly handled, judging by the 'patina'......and would estimate that it is probably mid 20thc onwards. It seems that the spear head and stick were 'mated' sometime ago. Whether this was 'tribally done' or not, I do not know, Perhaps it was an 'invention born from necessitity', a spear head fitted to a Fimbo for self protection or the protection of cattle from ...say....snakes. Or as an 'interesting' item to sell to tourists. If the latter.....it worked, as I too found it 'interesting'.

14th July 2007, 12:10 PM	#3
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	I like it. Interesting piece. http://tracelesswarrior.blogspot.com...ons-fimbo.html