Maasai Lance
This decorated lance is made rom solid wood, iron, beads, and fur. The beaded area, just over 6 inches long, features a diamond and zigzag pattern with borders on either end.
- Object: Maasai Lance
- Artist: unknown
- Circa: 2009
- Dimensions: -
- Culture Area: Africa / East Africa / Kenya
- Cultural Group: Maasai
- Cultural Context: In Maasai beading, each color has its own meaning related to a variety of cultural values and the material world. Red: bravery, unity, and blood. Often a cow is slaughtered when the Maasai meet and therefore unity is associated with red. White: peace, purity, and health. The association with health comes from white cows milk which the tribe drinks to stay healthy. Blue: energy and the sky. Orange: hospitality. Visitors are served cows milk from orange gourds. Yellow: also symbolizes hospitality. The animal skins on visitors beds are yellow. Green: health and land. Black: the people and the struggles they must endure.
- Donor: Sharon Koch
- Catalog #: 2025.5.34