Hello Jim,
This article is in french, but I've found many others in english as well. It will take me a while to read them all, but the french one confirmed Tim's observations about the wraps on the spears and the caste differentiation, and your own about Sudanic influences. About the takouba, all I've found so far is that they could be worn by nobles, vassals and captives/slaves alike. I'll see what further info I can find about the brass and decoration styles.
RomaRana, thanks for the clarification on the Maasai. It seems to me I've also heard talk of the avoidance of iron on religious principles, something to do with its inherent strength and its transmutation from ore to metal, and liquid to solid. Also, why did they regard smiths as containing a female essence as well? Could the unclean attribute be due to the oxidation of iron? Magic link between red rust and blood?
Sorry, I'm throwing a lot of questions and thoughts...
Warm regards,
Emanuel
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