S.Sudan N.Kenya shield

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

My understanding is (as mentioned in Sajen's post), that the Turkana started making these shields out of scrap metal, in the traditional shape, when the Kenyan authorities stopped the hunting of game animals. Probably around the 1960s/70s or so.

Great sculptural form.

Regards.

I can not recall where I read it but these shields were noted as early as 1920/30s? pring notes tin shields as being of recent times...I am guessing 70's
I have good provenance outlining certain sword types within Africa were made in the streets from available metals traded with sailors in the 1950s were I guess the post war market would have been hungry...I would guess too that scrap gathered in the 1940's during WWII would also have been used....so it would be reasonable to think that if the makers were astute enough during these periods their skill sets might have rolled back to the 20/30s

[Tim Simmons]

Thank you for the interesting replies. I have found that the steel oil barrel was used for shipping oil in 1902. Very interesting link-

http://aoghs.org/wp-content/uploads/...tent-AOGHS.jpg

The first oil well in Kenya was drilled 1960

Detlef, thank you for the information on the shield. I have that publication and have checked it.
In all my jumble it can sometimes be hard to see the wood for the trees.

Gav, any more information would be good. Like you I have read of and seen examples of East African steel shields from the earlier part of the 20th century. Like the development of steel drum and decline in wild animals I should think the steel shield has been around for some time.