A masterpiece of artistic innovation and geometric creativity, this Turkana shield highlights the aesthetic sensibilities of inland, east Africa. Historically, young men would have used shields such as this in battle with neighboring groups. Sent away from their families to roam the dry savannas with large flocks of cattle, goats, and camels, these warriors frequently raided the herds of fellow pastoralists using shields, spears, wristknives, and other weapons. Rectangular in shape and made from the thick hide of giraffes or hippopotami, shields such as this would have allowed the wearer to block spear thrusts while simultaneously delivering blows to an enemy combatant. However, as the striking geometric division of space on this work demonstrates, Turkana artists also imbued their weapons with aesthetic qualities that would have made them pleasing to look at and to own. Note how the sculptor skillfully modified the traditional rectilinear form with a series of arcs that catch the eye and draw the viewer’s attention toward the shapes created by the object’s wooden frame. This skillful integration of strongly defined geometric space with subtle curving lines—a creative choice rarely seen in extant Turkana shields—highlights a key feature of pastoralist art: the merging of functional necessity with artistic creativity.