Maasai Laiyok seme

[RomaRana]

Both maasai and kikuyu carry the seme the only difference being the kikuyu seme is slightly more pointed like yours. I was actually going to suggest yours was a kikuyu seme but the cowrie shell motif on the scabbard makes me think it is maasai.


I have an older style one with a coin dated from 1921 in a red scabbard. I will post pictures when I get home.


The oldest type is the long well made seme in the style you posted. That older style then breaks into around 3 subtypes.

The oldest is the style illustrated in Thompson's through maasai land. I have one which I purchased from Flavio. These date from around 1870-1890. This was during the most turbulent times for the maasai because of the rinderpest epidemic and the Lolikop wars. The style from this period often does not have a red scabbard.

The next subgroup almost have a mix of red and brown scabbards but the construction was very similar to the oldest style. The seme is still long but the materials are much better. These date from around 1900-1950 at the latest and they reflect a new period of prosperity because the maasai teamed up with the British during this period and were able to raid with their support. This period was also during the Maasai civil war.

The third long style is a kind of transitional hybrid. It has similar construction styles, particularly in sheath and hilt, with the smaller style I posted above. these date from around the 1950-1960's