African Warriors: The Samburu [Hardcover]

Thomasin Magor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1994

In the tradition of the acclaimed Nomads of Niger, here is an intimate portrait of one of the last surviving warrior peoples of Africa, the Samburu of northern Kenya. Thomasin Magor, who lived with the Samburu for six years, provides extraordinary photographs and an eloquent text offering unprecedented insight into the Samburu way of life.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

If Magor's book is any indication, the fawningly romantic view of the pastoralists of East Africa promulgated since the 19th century is still alive and well. In one caption to a photo of a slumbering herdsman, we are told how much grace and poise the Samuru have even while asleep. It is indeed fortunate, however, that the 200-plus excellent color photos coupled with the ethnographically detailed text manage to make this book a useful resource on the Samburu people of northern Kenya. Less well known than the Masai (who live further south), with whom they share many social and material cultural features-especially the importance of a military-based age grade system and the aesthetic emphasis given to the body arts-the Samburu are nonetheless a distinct culture that Magor documents in word and image. Well recommended for public and academic libraries with an interest in Africa.
Eugene C. Burt, Art Inst. of Seattle Lib.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

It seems that every so-called primitive tribe in the world has been documented repeatedly. But when a people are presented in prose as clear and in photos as intimate and affectionate as Magor's, it behooves libraries to add one more work of popular ethnography to their shelves. Magor is a native white Kenyan who, returning from education and a successful modeling career in England, overcame the reserve of the seminomadic Samburu (previously treated in Pavitt's Samburu [1992]), who are so xenophobic that, Magor says, they call themselves hard-hearted. She records their ways, especially their men's warriorhood, during which they are young, "at the peak of their physical prowess," and "the guardians of the community and its cattle." Ray Olson

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 255 pages
• Publisher: Harry N Abrams; First edition (September 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810919435
• ISBN-13: 978-0810919433
• Product Dimensions: 14 x 10.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,562,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enlightening view of a vanishing lifestyle, January 3, 2003

By 

Andrew Olivo Parodi (Oregon, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: African Warriors: The Samburu (Hardcover)

AFRICAN WARRIORS: THE SAMBURU is a beautiful book that will be of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about the warrior life of the Samburu, a nomadic tribe in Kenya and kin to the more famous Masaai tribe. I bought this book several years ago, and it has remained one of my favorites. The panoramic view of the Kenyan landscape that this book provides is so encompassing that it makes you feel like you are there.

The pictures that I found most intriguing were of the two warrior men holding hands. The accompanying caption reads that the warriors form close bonds with each other, and the handholding is one example of that. I found this interesting because this is not something you'd see in the USA: American men who have embraced a "warrior" role would not hold hands with others like themselves. The text also explains that the Samburu warriors always strive to appear elegant and graceful, and they prefer to maintain a slender and sinuous appearance. Bulk muscle is considered ugly. I find it fascinating that the Samburu's epitome of masculinity is also encouraged to show affection with other males and to have a decorative presence in the community. As AFRICAN WARRIORS: THE SAMBURU points out, these warriors are the center of Samburu life.

4.0 out of 5 stars Samburu photo essay, October 20, 2009

By 

Kenyan visitor (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: African Warriors: The Samburu (Hardcover)

The book was what I expected, I had seen the book while visiting Kenya recently.It has beautiful photographs of the Samburu people with interesting text. Overall, I am pleased with the book and happy I was able to find it as it was published in 1994 but still captures the Samburu tribes as they live today.
The Samburu people do not typically allow photographs to be taken of them so this book provides the photos that we could not take, actually far better ones. One photo I was hoping to see but it was not in the book were the Singing Wells.
I purchased this book used and I think it was rated in excellent condition, I would rate it in good condition as there were a number of pages toward the end of the book that have ink smears and the book jacket has a plastic library cover over it. The price was fair - the book just wasn't in "excellent" condition.