Massai ceremonial initiation spear for comment

Tim Simmons · 3rd March 2006, 07:00 PM

Freddy what a nice spear rather like the Tuareg all metal spear.

Saying a people used just one or two types of spear is a trifle bombastic. This is often said about the Zulu. Spears vary in function and a spear blade unless very distinctive, is a rather mature design making attribution just on an ordinary shape without provenance or documented evidence a little tricky. A book reviewing pan African spear types would be a great publication also a Herculean task and most probably rather expensive.

Picture Hutchinson & co London 1918. Okay the caption says Kikuyu but culturally not dissimilar to the Massai who I believe used the same initiation shields symbolising emergence. Just thought the picture was relevent to the thread. Tim

3rd March 2006, 07:00 PM	#16
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Freddy what a nice spear rather like the Tuareg all metal spear. Saying a people used just one or two types of spear is a trifle bombastic. This is often said about the Zulu. Spears vary in function and a spear blade unless very distinctive, is a rather mature design making attribution just on an ordinary shape without provenance or documented evidence a little tricky. A book reviewing pan African spear types would be a great publication also a Herculean task and most probably rather expensive. Picture Hutchinson & co London 1918. Okay the caption says Kikuyu but culturally not dissimilar to the Massai who I believe used the same initiation shields symbolising emergence. Just thought the picture was relevent to the thread. Tim Last edited by Tim Simmons; 3rd March 2006 at 07:39 PM.