IDNO

P.49918.ACH2

Description

Head and shoulders portrait of a man annotated as being a ‘Maasai lion hunter’. The man is wearing a headdress with a chin strap, and with neck and arm ornaments.
The photograph was used for a Christmas card. [JD 17/6/2009]

Place

E Africa; Tanzania; Maasailand [Tanganyika]

Cultural Affliation

Maasai [historically Masai]

Named Person

Jane Fosbrooke; Henry Fosbrooke

Photographer

?Fosbrooke, Henry A.

Collector / Expedition

Fosbrooke, Jane; Fosbrooke, Henry

Date

post 1932

Collection Name

Unmounted Haddon Collection

Source

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.49910.ACH2. to P.49936.ACH2. were found in envelope now marked C210/4/. This was found in another envelope now marked C210/ which came from the wooden drawer 1.

Biographical Information: Henry Fosbrooke (? - 25th April 1996). Jane Fosbrooke joined Henry in Tangiyika in August 1932. [Source: Northern Tanzania site, www.ntz.info/gen/n00176.html, JD 23/6/2009

Context: The climax of warriorhood was killing of a lion and the warrior then graduated from wearing an ostrich headdress to a lion made one. It was used during raids and wars as it gives the physical advantage of height and the wearer looks scarier and braver.
Today such headdresses are used for ceremonial functions and dances since killing of lions is prohibited by law." [Information provided by Njeri Gachihi, Rethinking Relationships Project, 15 December 2020, JD 04/03/2021]