Massai ceremonial initiation spear for comment

katana · 2nd March 2006, 09:41 PM

Hi everyone,
I have recently acquired this interesting initiation spear, a ritualistic piece from an initiation society of the Masai people, associated with rite-of-passage rituals for boys Apparently, this item was presented to a Victorian Missionary and had been kept in the family since then .The overall condition is very good, and definately has an air of age. The workmanship is excellent, the iron blade is thin with a central rib, hide and animal hair (Lion mane ?) adorn the handle area , the spear ends with a forged iron spike. The spear is approx 45,5'' / 116cms long, the blade is 6.5'' / 16.5cm. I would appreciate any input or information, thankyou

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Tim Simmons · 2nd March 2006, 10:14 PM

I almost bid on this. I think it is a very nice thing to have , It is not Victorian. I also have my doubts it is Massai, personally I think it comes from further south like northen South Africa , Lesotho or there abouts and nothing to do with boys. The skin and hair is bovine. I shall try and find some pictures. Great story, it is a good thing and you got it at a very good price. Tim

Luc LEFEBVRE · 2nd March 2006, 10:42 PM

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

galvano · 2nd March 2006, 11:06 PM

my massai blade
galvano

Tim Simmons · 3rd March 2006, 08:51 AM

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

katana · 3rd March 2006, 12:09 PM

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).

2nd March 2006, 09:41 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Massai ceremonial initiation spear for comment Hi everyone, I have recently acquired this interesting initiation spear, a ritualistic piece from an initiation society of the Masai people, associated with rite-of-passage rituals for boys Apparently, this item was presented to a Victorian Missionary and had been kept in the family since then .The overall condition is very good, and definately has an air of age. The workmanship is excellent, the iron blade is thin with a central rib, hide and animal hair (Lion mane ?) adorn the handle area , the spear ends with a forged iron spike. The spear is approx 45,5'' / 116cms long, the blade is 6.5'' / 16.5cm. I would appreciate any input or information, thankyou [IMG]http://[/IMG] Attached Images

2nd March 2006, 11:06 PM	#4
galvano Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 178	hi my massai blade galvano Attached Images

2nd March 2006, 10:14 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I almost bid on this. I think it is a very nice thing to have , It is not Victorian. I also have my doubts it is Massai, personally I think it comes from further south like northen South Africa , Lesotho or there abouts and nothing to do with boys. The skin and hair is bovine. I shall try and find some pictures. Great story, it is a good thing and you got it at a very good price. Tim

2nd March 2006, 10:42 PM	#3
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 472	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

3rd March 2006, 08:51 AM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	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

3rd March 2006, 12:09 PM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	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).