The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 20, 2025

Fragment of a Spear (eng'erempe or eremet)

1900s

Africa, Eastern Africa, Kenya, Masaai style, unknown maker

iron and wood
Overall: 17.6 cm (6 15/16 in.)
Gift of the African Art Sponsors of Karamu House 1929.371
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

This spear was used along with a shield.

Description

Masaai men of different ages use different styles of weapons. Though this example is incomplete, the long, flat blade indicates that it once belonged to a man whose age group was called moran (junior warrior). Held at the middle by the wood shaft, the weighty spear was balanced by a now-missing butt end, essentially a slender metal spike. These weapons were practical, and were often used by moran in lion hunting.
  • 1928
    Acquired by Paul Travis on behalf of the African Art Sponsors and the Gilpin Players in Kenya
    1928
    The African Art Sponsors of Karamu House
    1929—
    The Cleveland Museum of Art by gift
    Provenance Footnotes
    1 It appears on a checklist of "African Material" circa 1928 as one of "5 long spears. Masai, Kenya. British East Africa." Archives of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
  • {{cite web|title=Fragment of a Spear (eng'erempe or eremet)|url=false|author=|year=1900s|access-date=20 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1929.371