Masai Mask

Masai

Kenya

Masai living mainly in Kenya and Tanzania are nomadic herdsmen. For the Masai, wealth is attributed to the number of animals in ones herd. The cattle are considered as a gift from the gods. Masai have a culture based on age classes. Every seven years they move from one age class to another and finally as elders they hold considerable authority in the tribe. The warrior class, who had to protect the tribe with their lives, lived on their own with young girls and they would not be expected to do anything for seven years. They were called on to deal with a marauding lion or enemy. This mask represents the mighty Masai warrior. The Masai do not craft masks for rituals but they manufacture objects according to their needs like headrests, walking canes. Masai tribesmen have for long manufactured artifacts to sell or exchange with essential survival products.

Masks like these are not particularly used in ceremonies but are engraved to commemorate an important occasion or individual in the life of a Masai

Wood

Height : 15″ (38.1cm)