Zulu stick fighting shield ???
 

Hi,

recently acquired, what I believe to be a genuine stick fighting shield. Heavy duty rawhide and cow hide construction which is extremely hard (age hardened ) unfortunately no central stick . Definate wear to handle and inner surfaces of the shield. Certain that this is no tourist souvenir . Seems to have some age early 20thC (maybe earlier)

OAL 14" 36cms

Interesting link
http://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_Coetzee_0902.htm

Wondered if anyone knows what sort of wood is used for the 'central stick'.
Any comments, input gratefully received, thank you

Kind Regards David

More like an old dance shield :shrug:

Hi Lew :) ,
could be. But I have seen a number of genuine, old dance shields and quite a few of the tourist type as well. The pictures don't do the shield justice. Alot of the marks on the 'face' are bald areas which have receive impacts from a blunt narrow impliment. The 'triangulated' straps on the back which hold the 'stick' are clearly worn from movement/replacement. As is the back of the shield area around the handle. This shield has definately seen some sort of combat. The handle etc is all heavy duty hide....many of the dance shields seem to be less business like. The leather is 'rock hard' more like plywood than hide. Is there a likelihood that a stick fighting shield could also be used as a dancing one ?

Kind Regards David

As I understand it, stick fighting traditionally occurs at weddings, so a shield that gets used for stick fighting may be danced with too.

As for the wood, my simple answer is that I don't know, but I suspect that you won't be able to get it outside of South Africa. That's simply because many of the South African trees don't grow anywhere else (except perhaps as occasional weeds)

Best,

F

Thanks Fearn,
I would think something like assegai wood was used ....I suppose, dyed Ash would have to suffice.

Stick fighting may be traditional at weddings ....but for hundreds of years stick fighting was used to train warriors, for sport and to settle arguments.

Kind Regards David

Found this old image on the web....

David

They have some good videos on YouTube and after looking at a few I would say this is indeed a stick fighting shield ;)

Hi Lew :) ,
thank you for the 'heads up' :)

A few of the videos below.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw6T0...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k1N2...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVi3m...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DxWM...eature=related
http://www.videos.afqam.com/vd/Onlin...vd=BXT3Urio6fY

More of a martial art information video ...for those that might want 'a go' ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_qgilAJi4U

Kind Regards David