sucker for African sickles

[Tim Simmons]

As for the mambele I can only see a use for them as a striking weapon in a X form of strokes. Attacks to the head and shoulders with downward blows and Parry's from this postion, or upward strikes from similar to fancy fencing terms octave and septime and opportune blows from the side. It is well known that ideas about these weapons may have been formed to suit the times. These people were meant to be savage. As I mentioned before it is possible that there may have been some rule to certain forms of combat especially that involving the ruling classes. Perhaps some conflicts may have been fought out in quite sophisticated ways not always involving all the community and the disruption that would bring to a life based on varying degrees of subsistence agriculture and technology.