Dec 23, 2008: African Tribal War

xoxoxoBruce · 12-23-2008, 01:15 AM

Looking through Boston.Com's "The Year 2008 in Photographs", like all year end collections, evoked memories of things that have been pushed into the background by more recent events. But, when I saw this picture I had no recollection of ever hearing about it.

Most conflicts in the world, even small ones, are usually played out with AK-47s and Rocket Propelled Grenades, not bows & arrows.

Quote:

Maasai warriors cover a battle field as they clash with bows and arrows with members of the Kalenjin tribe in the Kapune hill overlooking the Olmelil valley located in the Transmara District in Western Kenya on March 01, 2008. The Massai, the Kalenjin and the Kisii tribes have recently clashed over ongoing land disputes that erupted after botched local elections during the general elections held in Kenya in December of 2007. Over twenty warriors from the tribes have been killed in bow and arrow battles near the borders of these tribes in the last couple of months. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images)

Over 20 killed? I wonder how many wounded. It's a good thing they don't have AKs and RPGs, because those bright colors make great targets.

Beestie · 12-23-2008, 03:59 AM

Warriors? Allrighty then.

SPUCK · 12-23-2008, 05:01 AM

Yeah color problems.. Bloods and Crips everywhere!!

Think what a guy with compound bow and a bunch of aluminum arrows could do... yikes.

"No one can hit me from - uhck!"

Gravdigr · 12-23-2008, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUCK

Yeah color problems.. Bloods and Crips everywhere!!Think what a guy with compound bow and a bunch of aluminum arrows could do... yikes.

Bloods & Crips everywhere!!

Old & Busted: Aluminum arrows.
New Hotness: Arrows made from carbon nanotubes.

floatingk · 12-23-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUCK

"No one can hit me from - uhck!"

I spilled my coffee...frickin hilarious!!!!!!: biglaugha

Diaphone Jim · 12-23-2008, 06:50 PM

Somehow the word that seems to go with this image is civilized.
No stealth, no mortars, no landmines, no unmanned drones flown from Palmdale, no IED's or cluster bombs.
20 killed vs. the hundreds of thousands wiped out, maimed and raped in that part of Africa just seems to be of a human scale.

Sundae · 12-23-2008, 06:26 AM

There was a lot of trouble in Kenya this year, a lot of it sparked off by the election. Of course it was along tribal lines, so it doesn't take much to get things going.

sweetwater · 12-23-2008, 08:34 AM

At first glance I thought it was a Guinness record attempt for simultaneous golfing. Guess not! Imagine, though, the relative quietness of a conflict resolved with bows and arrows. You could hear the agonized screams of your enemy & comrades when an arrow pierced flesh.

TheMercenary · 12-23-2008, 07:14 PM

Time for someone to make some cash giving one side repeating rifles and the other wiskey.

richlevy · 12-23-2008, 08:41 PM

Why doesn't one side just grab a bunch of machetes and go after the guys with bows and arrows? One of the reasons archers stood behind infantry was because once enemy got in close the bow and arrow were useless.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-23-2008, 11:21 PM

Great idea, you go first.

Wombat · 12-24-2008, 05:29 AM

I worked in a hospital in rural Kenya for a while in 1994 (Maua if you're interested). One day we had several dozen people come in with arrow wounds, because a couple of tribes a few miles down the hill had a battle over some land. One tribe got pretty much wiped out: the wounded we saw were the lucky ones, all the rest of their tribe had died because most of the arrows used were poisoned: the only survivors were the few that had been hit by un-poisoned arrows. This didn't even make Kenyan news, let alone international news. Shit like this goes on all the time but you won't hear about it. Something to think about as you tuck into your Christmas roast in your safe warm house.

Gravdigr · 12-24-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wombat

...the wounded we saw were the lucky ones, all the rest of their tribe had died because most of the arrows used were poisoned: the only survivors were the few that had been hit by un-poisoned arrows.

Well, there's my problem right there...I got to go poison me up some arrows. (No wonder my victims have been escaping lately...)

Tick · 12-24-2008, 11:51 PM

About those bright colors. Africa had a thriving textile industry. It died when the USA started sending cargo ships loaded with tons of used clothing pressed into bales. The intent was good. The result: Not so much.

Tick

onetrack · 12-26-2008, 12:11 AM

This is America, 2012, after the Democrats take all your guns off you, and repeal the Second Amendment ..

12-23-2008, 03:59 AM	#2
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 4,081	Warriors? Allrighty then. __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

12-23-2008, 08:34 AM	#8
sweetwater lives inside a Mobius strip Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,120	At first glance I thought it was a Guinness record attempt for simultaneous golfing. Guess not! Imagine, though, the relative quietness of a conflict resolved with bows and arrows. You could hear the agonized screams of your enemy & comrades when an arrow pierced flesh. __________________ I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque! - Bugs Bunny

12-23-2008, 07:14 PM	#9
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	Time for someone to make some cash giving one side repeating rifles and the other wiskey. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

12-23-2008, 08:41 PM	#10
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Why doesn't one side just grab a bunch of machetes and go after the guys with bows and arrows? One of the reasons archers stood behind infantry was because once enemy got in close the bow and arrow were useless. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

12-23-2008, 11:21 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Great idea, you go first. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-23-2008, 05:01 AM	#3
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,911	Yeah color problems.. Bloods and Crips everywhere!! Think what a guy with compound bow and a bunch of aluminum arrows could do... yikes. "No one can hit me from - uhck!"

12-23-2008, 06:50 PM	#6
Diaphone Jim Junior Master Dwellar Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,122	Somehow the word that seems to go with this image is civilized. No stealth, no mortars, no landmines, no unmanned drones flown from Palmdale, no IED's or cluster bombs. 20 killed vs. the hundreds of thousands wiped out, maimed and raped in that part of Africa just seems to be of a human scale.

12-23-2008, 06:26 AM	#7
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	There was a lot of trouble in Kenya this year, a lot of it sparked off by the election. Of course it was along tribal lines, so it doesn't take much to get things going.

12-24-2008, 05:29 AM	#12
Wombat (marsupial with backward-facing pouch) Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canberra Posts: 251	I worked in a hospital in rural Kenya for a while in 1994 (Maua if you're interested). One day we had several dozen people come in with arrow wounds, because a couple of tribes a few miles down the hill had a battle over some land. One tribe got pretty much wiped out: the wounded we saw were the lucky ones, all the rest of their tribe had died because most of the arrows used were poisoned: the only survivors were the few that had been hit by un-poisoned arrows. This didn't even make Kenyan news, let alone international news. Shit like this goes on all the time but you won't hear about it. Something to think about as you tuck into your Christmas roast in your safe warm house. __________________ If you don't do it properly, you'll get to the pub sooner.

12-24-2008, 11:51 PM	#14
Tick Do-er of Deeds Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 41	About those bright colors. Africa had a thriving textile industry. It died when the USA started sending cargo ships loaded with tons of used clothing pressed into bales. The intent was good. The result: Not so much. Tick

12-26-2008, 12:11 AM	#15
onetrack Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Western Australia Posts: 99	This is America, 2012, after the Democrats take all your guns off you, and repeal the Second Amendment .. __________________ Illiterate??? - Not a problem! Write today for more information!! ....

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