Zulu Assegai descriptions

The Double D · 21st July 2006, 05:59 PM

Eileen Jensen Krige The Social System of the Zulu list 15 different patterns and 20 different names for Zulu spears or Assegais used by Zulu’s. Ms. Krige list includes footnotes identifying her source. Krige also refers to all spears as Assegai. The following is from her book.

isiNkemba, isiPhapha: Assegai with short very broad oval shaped blade, about as large as ones hand, often carried for ornamental purposes. Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary.

umKhonto: Assegai of any variety. (term also for knife) Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary

umKhwa, iKlwa: Large, long-bladed assegai for war, and on serious occasions. R.C. Samuelson, Long, Long Ago (1929) Callaway mentions that the blade is about as wide as two fingers, and it has short shank and stick. Callaway, Nursery Tales. This was the one Shaka substituted for the long throwing assegais. Bryant, Olden Times in Zululand and Natal.

isiKwata: Short bladed and broad bladed assegai but pointed at the end.

iKhebezane: Assegai with long broad blade with grooves, not common in Zululand. Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary. Colenso and Calloway say that it is a light spear which Colenso states is used by the amaPhondo.

inHlendhla, iZakha: Barbed Assegai with a shortish shank and used in hunting. Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary

inGcula, inTshusha: Kind of assegai with a very long shank and small blade, perhaps four to five inches long used for small game etc. Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary

inDlodlela, umDludlu: Assegai with a very long blade-shank headed by a tiny spear perhaps two inches in length. Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary

isiJula, isiNsemba: Assegai for game some what larger than inGcula and according to Samuelson with a fair sized narrowish blade with a long shaft. .C. Samuelson, Long, Long Ago (1929) Callaway says it is a broad blade with a short strong shank which is set entirely into a strong stick, It is used as an axe or to dig up roots and is also called isiNesemba. Callaway, Nursery Tales.

uNhlekwane: Hunting assegai like isiJula but with a shorter haft. R.C. Samuelson, Long, Long Ago (1929).

inGicawe: Assegai with short slender blade as long as a finger. With a long often twisted and otherwise ornamented shank. Used for hunting (both throwing and stabbing) and slaughtering. Callaway, Nursery Tales.

iThatha: Barbed assegai with blades going out at broad angles

isiNqindi: Short handled assegai for stabbing at close quarters. R.C. Samuelson, Long, Long Ago (1929) Bryant says it usually consists only of the broad blade. It is held by a Bride in the hand and is used to cut meat at weddings.

inCusa: The most ancient weapon and in little use since Shaka’s time. It is a throwing spear and it has a blade ten to twelve inches being joined to a straight handle with wet hide.

21st July 2006, 05:59 PM	#1
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	Zulu Assegai descriptions Eileen Jensen Krige The Social System of the Zulu list 15 different patterns and 20 different names for Zulu spears or Assegais used by Zulu’s. Ms. Krige list includes footnotes identifying her source. Krige also refers to all spears as Assegai. The following is from her book. isiNkemba, isiPhapha: Assegai with short very broad oval shaped blade, about as large as ones hand, often carried for ornamental purposes. Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary. umKhonto: Assegai of any variety. (term also for knife) Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary umKhwa, iKlwa: Large, long-bladed assegai for war, and on serious occasions. R.C. Samuelson, Long, Long Ago (1929) Callaway mentions that the blade is about as wide as two fingers, and it has short shank and stick. Callaway, Nursery Tales. This was the one Shaka substituted for the long throwing assegais. Bryant, Olden Times in Zululand and Natal. isiKwata: Short bladed and broad bladed assegai but pointed at the end. iKhebezane: Assegai with long broad blade with grooves, not common in Zululand. Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary. Colenso and Calloway say that it is a light spear which Colenso states is used by the amaPhondo. inHlendhla, iZakha: Barbed Assegai with a shortish shank and used in hunting. Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary inGcula, inTshusha: Kind of assegai with a very long shank and small blade, perhaps four to five inches long used for small game etc. Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary inDlodlela, umDludlu: Assegai with a very long blade-shank headed by a tiny spear perhaps two inches in length. Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary isiJula, isiNsemba: Assegai for game some what larger than inGcula and according to Samuelson with a fair sized narrowish blade with a long shaft. .C. Samuelson, Long, Long Ago (1929) Callaway says it is a broad blade with a short strong shank which is set entirely into a strong stick, It is used as an axe or to dig up roots and is also called isiNesemba. Callaway, Nursery Tales. uNhlekwane: Hunting assegai like isiJula but with a shorter haft. R.C. Samuelson, Long, Long Ago (1929). inGicawe: Assegai with short slender blade as long as a finger. With a long often twisted and otherwise ornamented shank. Used for hunting (both throwing and stabbing) and slaughtering. Callaway, Nursery Tales. iThatha: Barbed assegai with blades going out at broad angles isiNqindi: Short handled assegai for stabbing at close quarters. R.C. Samuelson, Long, Long Ago (1929) Bryant says it usually consists only of the broad blade. It is held by a Bride in the hand and is used to cut meat at weddings. inCusa: The most ancient weapon and in little use since Shaka’s time. It is a throwing spear and it has a blade ten to twelve inches being joined to a straight handle with wet hide.