Broken Spears: A Maasai Journey

by Elizabeth L. Gilbert

The Maasai are an African tribe whose adherence to cultural traditions is legendary. Most still live in a five-thousand-square-mile tribal reserve of empty bush that stretches south of Nairobi all the way to Tanzania.
When Elizabeth Gilbert initially came into contact with the Maasai over ten years ago, their images were everywhere in Africa. Pictures of warriors were printed on postcards, T-shirts, safari advertisements, and hotel logos, but in reality their traditional life was disappearing. So Elizabeth set out on a four-year journey to photograph what was left of traditional Maasailand.
Broken Spears is the result of that remarkable journey. Over 120 images capture the rituals, secret ceremonies, landscapes, rites of passage, and warrior portraits of Maasailand, documenting the life of this extraordinary tribe in the most comprehensive collection of photographs of the Maasai from the nineteenth century and reproductions of historic photographs, documents, and land treaties.

Genres: Photography, Africa

192 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2003

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is basically a b&w photographic book of some of the most photogenic people on earth. The men are just delicious-looking, no other way to put it.

[Maria Maria1954 · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a photography project than a historical book. Bought for University module, did not give me material required. Very dark on the printing and photography. I rate purely on observation

[Anne Lutomia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing photos about Maasai cultural traditions especially about the rights of passage of young girls and boys into adulthood. The author included various must read prayers that are said during these ceremonies.

Also included is the history of the Maasai people of Kenya.

[Joann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this as the daughter of my eye surgeon wrote the book. I loved the pictures. Beautiful people who are lovingly portrayed by the author.

[Suanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible rich dense photographs.