Maasai of ilpayiani (junior elders) and ilmurran (warriors) age-grades, Olengaitoli village, Kenya

"Elders wear very few ornaments and these are usually of styles belonging to their own warrior set and are thus out of date. Elderhood is symbolized by the flywhisk, club and snuff container. Elders who dress traditionally wear blankets with our without shukas, double or single ear fobs, often one kind in each ear, wrapped bangles, neckrings, charm necklaces and small bells." [Klumpp, D., 1987: Maasai Art and Society: Age and Sex, Time and Space, cash and Cattle. U.M.I. Dissertation information 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.