05-11-2013, 09:08 PM
Eduard,
That is a very interesting idea, and I think you may be onto something. The whole idea of exclusive tribal practices may be European in origin. In shops and museums I always saw the massive, Mycenean-looking spears like mine labeled "Maasai warrior spear," while the similar but more attenuated spear with its leaf-shaped point was labeled "Samburu spear," yet I saw members of both tribes carrying both types of spear when out guarding their livestock or just lounging around (something they do a lot).
Early explorers of East Africa mention encountering Kikuyu warriors looking much like Maasai: wearing the red kilts, hair dressed in hundreds of elaborate braids and dyed red with ocher, but armed with the traditional Kikuyu weapons: short spears and bows. I suspect that the Kikuyu imitated the Maasai simply because they thought it was a cool way for warriors to look, much as Kelts and Germanics in border areas adopted each others' style and dress. Or else the Maasai have retained customs once widely practiced.
Yes, I read "King solomon's Mines" and Haggard's even better (in my opinion) "Allen Quatermain" which features actual Zulu and Maasai. Haggard was pro-Zulu, so they were noble warriors while the Maasai were bloodthirsty demons. Great Victorian boy's adventure stories, but not to be confused with reality.
That is a very interesting idea, and I think you may be onto something. The whole idea of exclusive tribal practices may be European in origin. In shops and museums I always saw the massive, Mycenean-looking spears like mine labeled "Maasai warrior spear," while the similar but more attenuated spear with its leaf-shaped point was labeled "Samburu spear," yet I saw members of both tribes carrying both types of spear when out guarding their livestock or just lounging around (something they do a lot).
Early explorers of East Africa mention encountering Kikuyu warriors looking much like Maasai: wearing the red kilts, hair dressed in hundreds of elaborate braids and dyed red with ocher, but armed with the traditional Kikuyu weapons: short spears and bows. I suspect that the Kikuyu imitated the Maasai simply because they thought it was a cool way for warriors to look, much as Kelts and Germanics in border areas adopted each others' style and dress. Or else the Maasai have retained customs once widely practiced.
Yes, I read "King solomon's Mines" and Haggard's even better (in my opinion) "Allen Quatermain" which features actual Zulu and Maasai. Haggard was pro-Zulu, so they were noble warriors while the Maasai were bloodthirsty demons. Great Victorian boy's adventure stories, but not to be confused with reality.
Pecunia non olet
