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 This item is a single piece of hand crafted ebony wood. This piece is composed of a Maasai warrior (called a moran’ in Maa language) his wife and their son. The exceptionally fine, detailed carving displays this warrior’s senior rank in his dress and marriage.
This Masai warrior has a removable “mkuki” and “panga” (spear and machete). The son has a removable “ngau” and “rungu” (shield and club).
The carving was done by one of the world-famous masters of wood: the Makonde Tribe of southern Tanzania, using only simple hand tools of axes, various-sized knives and sandpaper. The Makonde craftsman carved each figure from a single piece of ebony wood, which is an exceptionally hard and richly grained wood found in the borderland strip along the tropical areas in certain sections of Central Africa.
With a reputation as fierce warriors and an arrogant demeanor, the Masai have largely managed to stay outside the mainstream development of Kenya and still maintain traditions, and their much treasured cattle herds. Some young warriors have recently traveled into town, looking for salaried work, where their fierce reputation precedes them. They are eagerly hired as guards, as thieves rarely will bother a home or establishment that has a Masai guard.
The tallest figure is 7 inches tall and the whole piece is 3 ½ inches in diameter.
*Due to individual craftsmanship there could be some slight variances in position or appearance not affecting the quality of the product*
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