Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - African spears. Tourist stuff or genuine weapons?

katana · 5th January 2007, 05:28 PM

Hi Tim,
here are many references about the initiation rites of the Masai...in relation to Lions....This is an exert from an on-line obituary......about a very extraordinary individual...

Jean-Pierre Hallet died on January 1, 2004, at the age of 76. He was internationally renowned as an africanist, ethnologist, sociologist, humanitarian, agronomist, naturalist, author, lecturer, explorer, photographer, cinematographer, artist, African art authority and collector, and death-defying adventurer. He was best known and revered, however, as the world authority on the culture, languages, and history of African pygmies in general and the Ituri Forest Efé clan of the Bambuti pygmies in particular......

.....In the years from 1950 to 1957 beginning when he was 23, Jean-Pierre was initiated into a number of African tribal secret societies, making him a blood-brother of the Lega (Bwama Secret Society), the Masai, the Tutsi (Watutsi), and the Nande. The Masai initiation is one that few non-Masai would dream of attempting: to kill a charging lion with a spear while enclosed within a circle of Masai warriors. This, he somehow accomplished with a combination of bravado, strength, determination and discipline, all characteristics that typified his entire life.......

The references I have read state that the 'lion' spear is NOT thrown.....as the charging lion approaches the warrior.....the 'but' spike is placed in the ground and held, at an angle, pointing at the lion. Once the lion pounces or jumps it is 'skewed' on the end of the spear......the anchored spike ensures that the full force of the Lions momentum is ...in effect used against itself.
The design of the blade, ie long and sword like ensures maximum damage to vital organs, blood vessels and nerves and therefor a very quick death.....USUALLY. A misplaced strike would leave the animal severly wounded, but not 'instantly' dead and this could be ......and has been ....fatal to the spear wielder.

5th January 2007, 05:28 PM	#16
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Tim, here are many references about the initiation rites of the Masai...in relation to Lions....This is an exert from an on-line obituary......about a very extraordinary individual... Jean-Pierre Hallet died on January 1, 2004, at the age of 76. He was internationally renowned as an africanist, ethnologist, sociologist, humanitarian, agronomist, naturalist, author, lecturer, explorer, photographer, cinematographer, artist, African art authority and collector, and death-defying adventurer. He was best known and revered, however, as the world authority on the culture, languages, and history of African pygmies in general and the Ituri Forest Efé clan of the Bambuti pygmies in particular...... .....In the years from 1950 to 1957 beginning when he was 23, Jean-Pierre was initiated into a number of African tribal secret societies, making him a blood-brother of the Lega (Bwama Secret Society), the Masai, the Tutsi (Watutsi), and the Nande. The Masai initiation is one that few non-Masai would dream of attempting: to kill a charging lion with a spear while enclosed within a circle of Masai warriors. This, he somehow accomplished with a combination of bravado, strength, determination and discipline, all characteristics that typified his entire life....... The references I have read state that the 'lion' spear is NOT thrown.....as the charging lion approaches the warrior.....the 'but' spike is placed in the ground and held, at an angle, pointing at the lion. Once the lion pounces or jumps it is 'skewed' on the end of the spear......the anchored spike ensures that the full force of the Lions momentum is ...in effect used against itself. The design of the blade, ie long and sword like ensures maximum damage to vital organs, blood vessels and nerves and therefor a very quick death.....USUALLY. A misplaced strike would leave the animal severly wounded, but not 'instantly' dead and this could be ......and has been ....fatal to the spear wielder.