IDNO

P.99621.ACH2

Description

Five men wearing Maasai headdresses made from lion manes, and holding spears and shields made from buffalo hides. [JD 04/03/2021]

Place

E Africa; Kenya

Cultural Affliation

Maasai [historically Masai]

Named Person

Photographer

None

Collector / Expedition

Haddon, Alfred Cort

Date

circa 1903 - 1905

Collection Name

Unmounted Haddon Collection

Source

?Haddon, Alfred Cort (Dr)

Format

Postcard

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.99534 to P.99642 are in A.172. The album was formerly kept in paper archive envelope WO6/1/11; Box 174. It has now been transferred to the photo archive. The album was formerly kept in the Haddon Library.

Context: A similar image captioned as 'Headdress fashioned from lion's mane, worn by Maasai warrior on ceremonial occasions', has the additional information: "The most demanding test that a Maasai can face is the stalking and killing of a lion. Tradition dictates that at least once during his warriorhood he must take on this formidable challenge with only his wits and a spear to arm him. For the Eunoto, each warrior hopes to carry a buffalo hide shield decorated with symbols of his achievement during warriorhood. To carry such a shield he must either have killed a buffalo or receive the shield as a gift from an older brother." [Source: Beckwith, Carol and Angela Fisher, African ceremonies, Vol. 1. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1999. https://www.aluka.org/stable/10.5555/al.ch.document.bfacp1b10025, JD 04/03/2021]

This album has been catalogued with the support of the Getty Grant Fund. [AN 1/9/2003]