ZULU REFRENCE AND QUESTIONS

VANDOO · 29th December 2010, 08:50 PM

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HAVE A POST WHERE WE CAN ADD PICTURES AND INFORMATION ON THE ZULU NATION.
I WILL START OFF WITH A STRANGE ITEM I REFER TO AS A KNOBSPEARIE IS IT REAL OR SOMETHING MADE UP ? COMMENTS WELCOME
4 PICTURES OF KNOBSPEARIE AND ONE OF ZULU TODAY AND A PAINTING OF THE FIGHT AT BORKES RIFT (BRITISH AGAINST ZULU)

kronckew · 29th December 2010, 10:03 PM

zulus didn't use socketed spearheads. they used a tanged blade set in a hole drilled in the end of the shaft & reinforced with leather or wirework

looks like someone stuck that spearhead on a knobkerrie.

Nathaniel · 30th December 2010, 03:21 AM

I don't know much about this area...but I don't know if you would also like to add Zulu movies? I can think off the top of my head: Shaka Zulu & the movie Zulu Dawn. Any comments too on their historical, including ethnographic accuracy? If it's too corny...pretend I didn't mention it

VANDOO · 30th December 2010, 03:58 AM

THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW GOOD MOVIES AND THE TV SERIES ON SHAKA. THE ONES I HAVE SEEN OFTEN DEAL WITH THE BRITISH FAMOUS BATTLES FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW AS THE VICTORS. THEY ARE GOOD MOVIES AND HISTORICALLY ACCURATE UP TO A POINT BUT I WONDER IF ANYTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY THE ZULU THEMSELVES AS THEIR POINT OF VIEW WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. ZULU DAWN IS ONE OF THE BETTER MOVIES AND ENTERTAINING BUT DEALS MOSTLY WITH THE BESIEGED BRITISH THERE IS NOT MUCH FROM THE ZULU PERSPECTIVE.
HERE ARE TWO OLD PICTURES OF AFRICAN TRIBES WITH A ZULU IN EACH. THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS WORE DIFFERENT UNIFORMS I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY DIFFERENT DIVISIONS THERE WERE AND IF THEY WERE BASED ONLY ON ZULU TRIBES OR THOSE CONQUERED OR ALLIED WITH THEM. THE UNIFORMS ALSO DENOTED RANK.
THERE ARE TWO MODERN PICTURES OF ZULU STICK FIGHTING WHICH IS STILL PRACTICED TODAY. AND ONE GOOD OLD PICTURE OF A ZULU WARRIOR NOTE THE STAFF.
I TEND TO AGREE THAT THE SPEAR POINT IS NOT WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON ZULU WEAPONS AS MENTIONED ALL I HAVE SEEN HAVE A TANG NOT A SOCKET. IT WAS PROBABLY ADDED TO THE KNOBKERRY OR SHIELD STICK WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE ZULU. LOOKS LIKE IT COULD HAVE BEEN EITHER CEREMONIAL OR PERHAPS SOMETHING COBBLED TOGETHER BY A SOLDIER OR SELLER?

Nagawarrior · 30th December 2010, 05:27 AM

Secrets of the Dead PBS seris about the Zulu is an interesting look at the famous British battle at Isandlwana.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/prev...ulu/index.html

A few Zulu pieces from my collection

drdavid · 31st December 2010, 06:58 AM

Umm, Rorke's drift as opposed to Borke's rift

Tim Simmons · 31st December 2010, 01:01 PM

Like that spear Barry. Thought I might add this thread.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...+zulu+interest

Nagawarrior · 31st December 2010, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Like that spear Barry. Thought I might add this thread.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...+zulu+interest

Thanks Tim. Great pictures!

VANDOO · 31st December 2010, 08:27 PM

OOPS! RORKES DRIFT IT IS

SOME REFRENCES ON THE ZULU ARE
1. OSPREY MEN AT ARMS SERIES " QUEEN VICTORIAS ENEMIES (1) SOUTHERN AFRICA
2. OSPREY MILITARY ELITE SERIES "THE ZULUS"
3. SOME INFORMATION IN AFRICAN ARMS AND ARMOR BY CHRISTOPHER SPRING
THE OSPREY ARMS BOOKS ARE MORE COMPREHENSIVE LESS EXPENSIVE AND EASIER TO FIND AND HAVE GOOD COLOR PICTURE PLATES.

NICE ZULU ITEMS NOT OFTEN SEEN IN THE USA PERHAPS MORE COMMON IN EUROPE. I HAVE SEEN SOME IN MUSEUMS BUT ONLY ONE COMPLETE SET FOR SALE HERE.

thinreadline · 1st January 2011, 09:14 PM

As already stated , that certainly is not a Zulu spear .. I am not wholly convinced that it is a knobkerry either .. the head seems very small to those I have seen and own ... though I have seen some Bantu staffs with small rounded heads like that. It may even be a valid piece in its own right with the knobbed end acting as a counter balance... I wonder if any of the spear experts on this forum can identify it ?

Nathaniel · 2nd January 2011, 08:44 AM

Here are some pics I took last year at Baltimore of a display:

Lew · 3rd January 2011, 04:17 PM

Barry the spear in question is a composite the head is Danakil the shaft is a knobkerrie.

katana · 3rd January 2011, 06:51 PM

Totally agree with Lew, a composite. The Danekil spearhead socket would normally be 'flush' (or almost )with the shaft , this one is not and looks out of place. Due to the British involvement in Somalia and South Africa, perhaps the items ended up in a 'British' collection ....later married together either by innocent ignorance or monetary deception.

The idea of the knob being a counter balance is quite plausable though. In Spring's 'African arms and armour' page 38 is a picture of a Lancer of the Sultan of Bagrima's cavalry. The two headed lance is counter weighted with a 'knob' (material unknown) I do not have a scanner so can't post the picture.

Happy New Year to you all

David

VANDOO · 12th December 2011, 02:22 AM

THIS RECENTLY CLOSED ON EBAY . I LIKED IT AND BID BUT THERE WERE OTHERS WHO LIKED IT AS WELL WITH MUCHO DINERO.
IT IS DESCRIBED AS A ZULU PRESTIEGE BATON, ALSO USED FOR DANCING. 28 INCHES LONG. I HAD NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT INCLUDE IT HERE IN THE ZULU SECTION. ITS SAID TO BE FROM 1899.

Lew · 12th December 2011, 02:48 AM

Barry

I was one of the bidders and yes it went for a grand or more

. It's probably northern Ngoni and highly stylized.

Tim Simmons · 12th December 2011, 08:16 AM

Yes a beautiful club. I had an eye on it but that was all I could do.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 12th December 2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

I don't know much about this area...but I don't know if you would also like to add Zulu movies? I can think off the top of my head: Shaka Zulu & the movie Zulu Dawn. Any comments too on their historical, including ethnographic accuracy? If it's too corny...pretend I didn't mention it

Salaams Nathaniel~ As an exercise in historical accuracy it is well worth viewing the film Zulu and then going after the evidence so as to compare fact with fiction. Although Zulu is a good boys own classic it is nontheless full of inaccuracy and poetic licence.
For a start this was not a Welsh Regiment so the reliance on stirring Welsh singing is entirely misplaced. There was no honour shown by either side and when reinforcements arrived all injured enemy were executed point blank on the battlefield. However it is still "a good film" !!
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

collectingspears · 29th June 2013, 11:38 AM

Agreed that this particular example is a composite of two different tribal artefacts. However there are many examples of authentic knobkerrie spear combinations. In fact the South African group known as the Knobnoses produced spears which were almost always had protuberances at the end of their spear hafts.

collectingspears · 12th July 2013, 08:10 PM

Hi, just a quick correction to Nagawarrior. The old photo that you show & mention as Zulu is not Zulu but a Zulu offshoot known as Ngoni or Angoni they live in small kingdoms in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia & Mozambique. The tufted spear indicate this as part of the Maseko Ngoni under king Gomani in Malawi & Mozambique.

29th December 2010, 08:50 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	ZULU REFRENCE AND QUESTIONS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HAVE A POST WHERE WE CAN ADD PICTURES AND INFORMATION ON THE ZULU NATION. I WILL START OFF WITH A STRANGE ITEM I REFER TO AS A KNOBSPEARIE IS IT REAL OR SOMETHING MADE UP ? COMMENTS WELCOME 4 PICTURES OF KNOBSPEARIE AND ONE OF ZULU TODAY AND A PAINTING OF THE FIGHT AT BORKES RIFT (BRITISH AGAINST ZULU) Attached Images

30th December 2010, 03:21 AM	#3
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	I don't know much about this area...but I don't know if you would also like to add Zulu movies? I can think off the top of my head: Shaka Zulu & the movie Zulu Dawn. Any comments too on their historical, including ethnographic accuracy? If it's too corny...pretend I didn't mention it Last edited by Nathaniel; 30th December 2010 at 03:37 AM.

30th December 2010, 03:58 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW GOOD MOVIES AND THE TV SERIES ON SHAKA. THE ONES I HAVE SEEN OFTEN DEAL WITH THE BRITISH FAMOUS BATTLES FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW AS THE VICTORS. THEY ARE GOOD MOVIES AND HISTORICALLY ACCURATE UP TO A POINT BUT I WONDER IF ANYTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY THE ZULU THEMSELVES AS THEIR POINT OF VIEW WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. ZULU DAWN IS ONE OF THE BETTER MOVIES AND ENTERTAINING BUT DEALS MOSTLY WITH THE BESIEGED BRITISH THERE IS NOT MUCH FROM THE ZULU PERSPECTIVE. HERE ARE TWO OLD PICTURES OF AFRICAN TRIBES WITH A ZULU IN EACH. THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS WORE DIFFERENT UNIFORMS I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY DIFFERENT DIVISIONS THERE WERE AND IF THEY WERE BASED ONLY ON ZULU TRIBES OR THOSE CONQUERED OR ALLIED WITH THEM. THE UNIFORMS ALSO DENOTED RANK. THERE ARE TWO MODERN PICTURES OF ZULU STICK FIGHTING WHICH IS STILL PRACTICED TODAY. AND ONE GOOD OLD PICTURE OF A ZULU WARRIOR NOTE THE STAFF. I TEND TO AGREE THAT THE SPEAR POINT IS NOT WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON ZULU WEAPONS AS MENTIONED ALL I HAVE SEEN HAVE A TANG NOT A SOCKET. IT WAS PROBABLY ADDED TO THE KNOBKERRY OR SHIELD STICK WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE ZULU. LOOKS LIKE IT COULD HAVE BEEN EITHER CEREMONIAL OR PERHAPS SOMETHING COBBLED TOGETHER BY A SOLDIER OR SELLER? Attached Images

30th December 2010, 05:27 AM	#5
Nagawarrior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California USA Posts: 160	Secrets of the Dead PBS seris about the Zulu is an interesting look at the famous British battle at Isandlwana. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/prev...ulu/index.html A few Zulu pieces from my collection Attached Images

1st January 2011, 09:14 PM	#10
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	kerry spear As already stated , that certainly is not a Zulu spear .. I am not wholly convinced that it is a knobkerry either .. the head seems very small to those I have seen and own ... though I have seen some Bantu staffs with small rounded heads like that. It may even be a valid piece in its own right with the knobbed end acting as a counter balance... I wonder if any of the spear experts on this forum can identify it ?

29th December 2010, 10:03 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	zulus didn't use socketed spearheads. they used a tanged blade set in a hole drilled in the end of the shaft & reinforced with leather or wirework looks like someone stuck that spearhead on a knobkerrie.

31st December 2010, 06:58 AM	#6
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 371	Umm, Rorke's drift as opposed to Borke's rift

31st December 2010, 01:01 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Like that spear Barry. Thought I might add this thread. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...+zulu+interest

31st December 2010, 08:27 PM	#9
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	OOPS! RORKES DRIFT IT IS SOME REFRENCES ON THE ZULU ARE 1. OSPREY MEN AT ARMS SERIES " QUEEN VICTORIAS ENEMIES (1) SOUTHERN AFRICA 2. OSPREY MILITARY ELITE SERIES "THE ZULUS" 3. SOME INFORMATION IN AFRICAN ARMS AND ARMOR BY CHRISTOPHER SPRING THE OSPREY ARMS BOOKS ARE MORE COMPREHENSIVE LESS EXPENSIVE AND EASIER TO FIND AND HAVE GOOD COLOR PICTURE PLATES. NICE ZULU ITEMS NOT OFTEN SEEN IN THE USA PERHAPS MORE COMMON IN EUROPE. I HAVE SEEN SOME IN MUSEUMS BUT ONLY ONE COMPLETE SET FOR SALE HERE.

2nd January 2011, 08:44 AM	#11
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Here are some pics I took last year at Baltimore of a display:

3rd January 2011, 04:17 PM	#12
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Barry the spear in question is a composite the head is Danakil the shaft is a knobkerrie.

3rd January 2011, 06:51 PM	#13
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Totally agree with Lew, a composite. The Danekil spearhead socket would normally be 'flush' (or almost )with the shaft , this one is not and looks out of place. Due to the British involvement in Somalia and South Africa, perhaps the items ended up in a 'British' collection ....later married together either by innocent ignorance or monetary deception. The idea of the knob being a counter balance is quite plausable though. In Spring's 'African arms and armour' page 38 is a picture of a Lancer of the Sultan of Bagrima's cavalry. The two headed lance is counter weighted with a 'knob' (material unknown) I do not have a scanner so can't post the picture. Happy New Year to you all David

12th December 2011, 02:22 AM	#14
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THIS RECENTLY CLOSED ON EBAY . I LIKED IT AND BID BUT THERE WERE OTHERS WHO LIKED IT AS WELL WITH MUCHO DINERO. IT IS DESCRIBED AS A ZULU PRESTIEGE BATON, ALSO USED FOR DANCING. 28 INCHES LONG. I HAD NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT INCLUDE IT HERE IN THE ZULU SECTION. ITS SAID TO BE FROM 1899. Attached Images

12th December 2011, 02:48 AM	#15
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Barry I was one of the bidders and yes it went for a grand or more . It's probably northern Ngoni and highly stylized.

12th December 2011, 08:16 AM	#16
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Yes a beautiful club. I had an eye on it but that was all I could do.

29th June 2013, 11:38 AM	#18
collectingspears Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Swaziland Posts: 6	Agreed that this particular example is a composite of two different tribal artefacts. However there are many examples of authentic knobkerrie spear combinations. In fact the South African group known as the Knobnoses produced spears which were almost always had protuberances at the end of their spear hafts.

12th July 2013, 08:10 PM	#19
collectingspears Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Swaziland Posts: 6	Hi, just a quick correction to Nagawarrior. The old photo that you show & mention as Zulu is not Zulu but a Zulu offshoot known as Ngoni or Angoni they live in small kingdoms in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia & Mozambique. The tufted spear indicate this as part of the Maseko Ngoni under king Gomani in Malawi & Mozambique.

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