Interesting stuff Terry.

Was watching the movie "Zulu" for the twentieth time three weeks ago after also watching the mini-series "Shaka". Remembered thinking how frightening it would be to have a thousand of these big buggers running towards you with assegai and shield and all you would have is a single shot martini-henry.

Puts it in perspective a little.

These pictures are all from the pre Anglo-Zulu War era.

Picture 1. The Warrior has both the assegai (stabbing spear) and the isijula (throwing spear) along with knobkerrie.

Picture 3. The warriors have both the long shield (isihlangu) and the short shield (umbumbuluzo). The umbumbuluzo came into use in the 1850's under Cetshwayo's rule.

A distinction should be made between the ceremonial dress and the combat dress. Most warriors went into battle dressed like those in pictures 1 and 2. In earlier days, combat dress was more like picture 6. Prior to Shaka and the assegai, combat between Zulus was more symbolic involving the throwing spears and light casualties (generally). Shaka advanced the art of war with his tactics and the assegai.

Regards,

Terry

P.S.
There appears to be multiple spellings of some Zulu words. assegai, assagai; umbumbuluzo, umbhumbluzo.

They is fearsome to be sure.........

quote:

Originally posted by JJ_Miller:
They is fearsome to be sure.........

The last thing you would want to see is several thousand of those guys shouting "usuthu".

Regards,

Terry

The African answer to Geronimo or Crazy Horse, worthy opponents all of them.

DOMINATRIX JUDGE G in drag

Dont laugh at my DISTANT relatives please

Here is a picture taken outside the Tanzania hunting camp ....

Is is actually the ( NIGHT NURSE ) and JUDGE G dressed in his witchdoctor costume ( having swapped roles with the camp dominatrix ) ....

Peter

Although modern common usage defines the "assegai" as the broad bladed stabbing spear (developed by Shaka). In the 19th Century, the term assegai meant a throwing spear and the appropriate term for the Shaka's invention is "iklwas". So named for the sound it made while being thrust into and withdrawn from the enemy.

Regards,

Terry

Allegedly liquidating authentic Zulu artifact collection from a museum (although many items are fairly recent):

AuthenticZulu4533 on Ebay

Buy your own thrusting spear and headdress while they last.

Terry, how right you are. As far as I can tell from what I have read there was no question in regards to their courage. They were just not able to coordinate their "horns of the buffalo" attack on the supply station near Rourkes Drift or there would have been no British victory at all.............................JJ