Shield

ClassificationsArms and Armor-shields

Culturepossibly Amarro

Culturepossibly Oromo

Datemid 20th Century

Made AtEthiopia, Africa

MediumHippopotamus hide

Dimensions32 x 29 1/8 x 6 1/4 in. (81.3 x 74 x 15.9 cm)

Credit LineAnonymous Gift

Object number2003.43.4

DescriptionThis particular style of shield is concurrent with multiple cultures including the Amarro of the Southwestern region and the Oromo of the Southern Central region. In order to make these shields, hide, often from the hippopotamus or buffalo, needed to be cut and mounted on a concave surface that was embedded with stones. The hide was pounded, stretched and oiled before being left to dry. While the Oromo had special shield craftsman (called chawa), it was likely that the Amarro obtained their shields through trade with peoples from the Lake Abaya area and the Lowland Arssi peoples (a sub-group of the Oromo).

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