Zulu Commanders stick of office

[Kmaddock]

Hi All
I picked up the attached stick yesterday at a car boot sale.

Looking on line I think it is a Zulu prestige item, walking stick.

The person who did the carving managed to incorporate beautifully the dark and light coloured timber into the snakeheads.

Seemingly the snake represented ancestral spirits and these staffs were carried by men of high status


Timber is very dense and the stick sinks in water (yes I took it into the bath last night ;-))

The timber was v dry so I waxed it last night to bring out the colouring.

overall length 34 inches with no cracking,

So what do you think am i correct in my identification.

Regards
Ken