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Proud pastoralist people, the Maasai who inhabit the plains of East Afrika (southern Kenya and northern mainland of Tanzania) are hugely admired for, among other things, some of their material cultural possessions, especially the spear that most adult men carry almost ubiquitously. Their spear is the symbol of adulthood among them and is a major protective weapon and although the spear is a widely used tool across Afrika, the Maasai spear occupies a very special place for its fame.
The most famous among an assortment of types is the variety known as the “Lion Spear”. Pictured below are a display of Maasai spear designs. The first three on the left side are the everyday spears that the Moran (warriors) and elders carry at all times. The rest are different ceremonial spears designed for different age groups. The last two on the right are generally carried by elders, while the long-bladed ones in the middle are carried by younger adults.
