THANK'S A INTERESTING AND WELL DONE PRESENTATION ON THE MASAI SHIELD. I SAW SOME OF THE YOUNG MEN COVERED IN WHITE ASH CARRYING SHIELDS FOR SOME INITIATION INTO WARRIOR OR MANHOOD WHILE IN TANZANIA BUT NO ADULT WARRIORS WITH A SHIELD. THE NEW SHIELDS WERE NOT AS WELL MADE AS THE GOOD OLDER ONES AND WERE MORE FLAT AND NOT AS WELL PAINTED.
HERE ARE TWO EXAMPLES THAT SHOW WHAT I REFER TO. THE FIRST IS THE MORE MODERN FLAT LOOSELY FORMED WITH THE HAIR STILL ON THE HIDE ON THE INSIDE. THE CENTER HANDLE STICK IS NOT AS LARGE AS THOSE SHOWN IN THE VIDEO. THE PAINT FLAKES AND I SUSPECT THIS WAS MADE FOR THE INITIATION CEREMONY OF YOUNG WARRIORS CIRCA EARLY 1900'S. 33 INCH TALL X 21.5 IN WIDE. THE OLD ONES I HAVE SEEN WERE LARGER, HAD MUCH BETTER PAINT AND WERE DOMED AND DEEP SORT OF LIKE A BOAT. I SAW NO HAIR INSIDE OR OUT AND THEY WERE HARD , RIGID AND WELL SHAPED. CONSIDERING THE YOUNG WARRIOR WAS EXPECTED TO FACE A LIONS CHARGE WITH HIS SPEAR AND SHIELD HE CERTAINLY NEEDED A LARGE STOUT SHIELD TO KEEP SOME SPACE BETWEEN HIM AND THE LION. I HAVE INCLUDED TWO PICTURES OF A SMALL TOURIST ITEM THAT IS CLOSER TO THE WORKMANSHIP ON THE OLD SHIELDS EXCEPT MUCH SMALLER AND NEWER.
PIC.#1 & #2. MY YOUNG WARRIORS SHIELD
#3. & #4. SMALL SOUVENIR SHIELD.
#5. MASAI SHIELD 44 X 32 IN.
#6. & #7. 90 CM. MASSAI SHIELD
#8. MASAI WARRIORS
#9. MASAI WARRIORS
#10, #11. & #12. OLD MASAI 36 X 27 IN.