Maasai warrior (olmurrani) shooting blunt arrow into the carotid artery of a cow, Olengaitoli village, Kenya

The photograph depicts Maasai ilmurran (warriors), in the cattle kraal, holding a cow while one of them shoots a blunt arrow (olng' oret) with a small bow (enkauo, both together are called inkai) into the carotid artery of the animal. "Pure pastoralism is no longer a reality for most Maasai (Masai). More and more the traditional milk and meat diet occasionally supplemented with blood is being combined with maize, potatoes, beans and other vegetable foods. The main reason for this is that because of population growth, environmental degradation and land alienation, Maasai are no longer able to keep enough animals to feed themselves." [Klumpp D., 1987: Maasai Art and Society:Age and Sex, Time and Space, Cash and Cattle. U.M.I Dissertation Service]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.