Unusual Masai/Maasai? Spear
 

Hi,
Looking for some help from all the African experts. Despite this spear's more obvious lineage there are some aspects that I have not seen before, the unusual butt spike, the 'lion' hide, the grips and the decoration. It is 91 inches (231 cm) long in total the head being 32 inches (81 cm), all the metal parts appear to have been painted black at some time possibly by a collector in the past? It has obviously been around for some time but I've no idea as to how long. I did get another spear with this one which is of a completely different form but may or may not be associated which I will post next. Many thanks for all and any replies.
Regards,
Norman.

THE IRON SPEAR POINT APPEARS TO BE A LOCALLY FORGED OLDER MASAI ELDERS LION SPEAR. ALL THE REST DOSENT FIT WITH THE MASAI AT ALL HOW IT ALL CAME TOGETHER WOULD NO DOUBT BE A VERY INTERESTING STORY. PERHAPS OTHER MEMBERS CAN IDENTIFY THE BUTT SPIKE AND WHAT TRIBE MIGHT FIT OUT THE SPEAR SHAFT LIKE IT IS. A INTERESTING PERHAPS ONE OF A KIND ITEM.

Hi Vandoo,
I couldn't find anything remotely similar, the spearhead was the only part that was familiar, hopefully someone might have an inkling to its origin.
Thanks for your interest.
My Regards,
Norman.

Hi,
This section reminds me of Manding/Mandingo work and decoration.
Regards,
Norman.

THE LEATHER WORK DOES REMIND ME OF MANDINGO WORK AND THE BUTT SPIKE PERHAPS ETHIOPIA, PERSIA, INDIA :confused:
I HAVE A SPEAR WITH A SIMULAR COVERED SHAFT WITH WHAT MAY BE LION HIDE AND SEPARATE SECTIONS OF LEATHER WORK LIKE YOURS. UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE SPEAR IS FROM. I INCLUDE A PICTURE IT IS THE LARGER ONE WITH THE TWO PRONGS ON THE HEAD. PERHAPS MY SPEAR CAN GET IDENTIFIED AND HELP IDENTIFY YOURS AS WELL.

There are a few of these around - usually the metal parts quite crudely made, sometimes with bits of leopard fur round the shaft, plus coloured leatherwork. I think they were mainly made for sale to Europeans, perhaps early-mid 20th century ? I've heard it said they emanated from the Sierra Leone area ??

But the head on this example looks as if it comes from a recent Masai spear from East Africa, and does not belong.

Regards.

Hi Colin,
No surprises, the 'Somali' spear was the one I went for and this was with it. Many thanks for the info.
My Regards,
Norman.


Hi Vandoo,
Looks like we may have our answer :( .
My Regards.
Norman.

YES IT LOOKS LIKE THE ANSWER IS SIERRA LEONE. MY SPEAR SHAFT IS LIKE YOURS AND THE STEEL POINT IS CRUDELY MADE ON MINE IT WOULD MAKE A BETTER WALL HANGER OR DANCE SPEAR THAN ONE FOR WAR OR HUNTING. I COULD FIND NO PICTURES OF SUCH A SPEAR LOOKING THRU PHOTOS BUT DID FIND THAT MASAI WERE PRESENT IN SIERRA LEONE THOUGH NOT IN LARGE NUMBERS. THE PRIMARY TRIBES BEING THE TEMNE AND MENDE I KNOW LITTLE OF THESE TRIBES SO PERHAPS THE LEATHER WORK AND USE OF HIDES TO COVER SPEAR SHAFTS IS PREVELENT AMONG THESE TRIBES.?
THE POINT ON YOUR SPEAR MAY NOT BE SO BAD HAS IT BEEN SHARPENED IF SO IT MAY HAVE SEEN USE. IF SO IT MAY BE THE GUINUINE NATIVE MADE OLD IRON MASSAI POINT OLD LOCAL MADE ONES WERE OFTEN IRON AND WILL BEND AND STRAIGHTEN. THE BUTT SPIKE IS GOOD QUALITY AND YOU MAY GET AN I.D. ON IT. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMPOSITE WITH VARYING QUALITY TO ITS PARTS.
THIS OLD 1909 POSTCARD IS ALL I HAVE FOUND TO PLACE THE MASAI IN SIERRA LEONE HOW ACCURATE IT IS I HAVE NO IDEA AS I THOUGHT THEY WERE MAINLY IN KENYA AND TANZINEA. :shrug:

Hi Vandoo,
The first 4/5 inches of the blade have been sharpened and are still sharp, plenty for very effective use with this type of blade profile. Sierra Leone and Kenya approx 3500 miles apart, a long way for Maasai overland migration? The butt spike has been cleaned, varnished and re-attached at some point, whether this is an indication that it is not original to the piece or just running repairs is difficult to ascertain. The head is attached to the shaft with some type of black pitch. Thanks for the additional info.
My Regards,
Norman.

Hi Vandoo,
This spearhead is on a commercial website, P.M. if you want the web address, and is described as ceremonial Somali/Danakil, looks a lot like your spearhead with the shaft like the one on this thread. Might be coincidental that the other spear I got with this one has been identified as Somali. Might raise a few ???
My Regards,
Norman.

The postcard is confusing, Naivasha is in Kenya.
Regards
Richard

YES A BOGUS POST CARD WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT , EVERYTHING THAT IS WRITTEN IS TRUE ISN'T IT. :rolleyes: I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED UP ON WHERE THE OTHER TOWN WAS I AM GLAD SOMEONE ELSE DID. GETTIN LAZY IN MY OLD AGE :o
I WOULD SAY THIS SPEAR WAS MADE UP BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE MASSAI. THE MASSAI HAVE CHOSEN TO MAINTAIN THEIR SOCIETY IN THE OLD AND TRADITIONAL WAYS. THEIR SPEARS AND SWORDS ARE CONSTRUCTED IN A CERTIAN WAY AND FROM WHAT I SAW IN TANZANIA AND KENYA HAVE REMAINED TRUE TO FORM. THIS SPEAR WAS LIKELY PUT TOGETHER BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN A TRADITIONAL MASSAI. THE QUESTION IS WHICH TRIBE AND WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED THAT COVER THE SPEAR SHAFT WITH SECTIONS OF HIDE INTERSPACED WITH LEATHER WORK AS WE SEE ON THESE TWO EXAMPLES? I SUSPECT THE BLADE AND BUTT SPIKE ARE OLDER THAN THE SHAFT ON THE FIRST SPEAR.
MY SPEAR IS 57.5 INCHES LONG AND IS MISSING THE BUTT SPIKE. IT COULD BE USED AS A SHORT THRUSTING AND SLASHING WEAPON BUT IS MOST LIKELY FOR CEREMONIE, PARADES, DANCE OR JUST A TOURIST ITEM. :shrug:
THE SPEAR POINT ON MINE IS NOT OF GOOD QUALITY LIKE THE ONE SHOWN IN THE PREVIOUS POST AND IS LIKELY MADE OF A PIECE OF SCRAP METAL FROM A CAR OR OIL DRUM OR SOMETHING. THE SHAFT DOES SHOW WEAR AND MOST OF THE HAIR IS GONE FROM THE HIDE COVER SO IT MAY HAVE SEEN SOME LOCAL USE?.

Hi,
Met a friend today whom I hadn't seen in a while, his family owned a farm in Kenya from the early 1920's through to the late 1970's and he was born and brought up in Kenya. They actually owned two farms one of which was adjacent to the Maasai reserve. I described this spear to him and his unreserved opinion was that this is tourist stuff, older tourist, but definitely tourist. As far as I'm concerned this conundrum has been put to bed and I'll now consign this spear to the scrapheap :(
Regards,
Norman.

VANDOOS SCRAP HEAP IS AVALABLE FOR ALL SUCH CAST OFFS :D

Too late my friend, son and heir has purloined said spear and hotfooted it. :eek: Maybe next time although one hopes there won't be a next time :o but sure as eggs are eggs there probably will be. :( :)
My Regards,
Norman.

I was watching the BBC comedy TV show "Blandings" yesterday evening, and saw Clarence (Lord Emsworth), has a spear like this one in the corner of his study, next to a Zulu shield.

See www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer :)

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D