There is so much difference between the Zulu and the Massai that it's almost like apples and oranges.
With the Zulu and Swazi the wire wrapped pieces were often prestige oriented (I have a Zulu chief's axe that's heavily wrapped and twice normal size and weight), and the type wood also often was associated with the intended use of the club as they were/are used for more than just warfare and fighting, ie dispatching trapped/snared game and even as a throwing stick for hunting small game.
Different tribes and tribal groups also made the Ilwisa and such out of the best wood in any given area.
Some Swazi tribal groups even made theirs intentionally with the bark left on as a "training aide" for younger warriors/hunters so that they could note same when they ran across them.
|