Rare metal shield "upwal"
Kenya, Turkana
not available anymore
Size
H: 53,5 cm/ 85 cm (carrying pole)
H: 21.1 inch/ 33.5 inch (carrying pole)
Description
sheet-iron (front side cleaned), wood, animal skin/ sinews,
Shape and design are reminiscent of the typical shields of the Turkana, which were made of animal skin (mostly from giraffe, antelope, hippo or buffalo).
In his book “Geheimnis Afrika” (1979) Heinrich Harrer reports about such a metal sign, which hung in the mission station in Kakuma.