Yet another new guy [Archive] - Ethnographic Arms & Armour

Marc655

10th February 2006, 06:07 PM

Hi,

I bought these in an antiques shop in Zimbabwe a fair few years ago but they couldn't really tell me much about them. After reading some of the posts and seeing the knowledge that there is on this site I was wondering whether some of you may be able to help.

Thanks
Marc

Luc LEFEBVRE

10th February 2006, 08:14 PM

Hello Marc,
Your short swords and knives are from the SHONA people, they are called bakatwa, double-edged.The sheath is called hara, made of 2 pieces of wood, sometimes ivory, carved and bound together with wire.Ornemental sections of fine brass wire often embellish the hilt and sections of the sheath.
The Shona live in Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique.Their neighbors are : Ndebele, Tonga, Chikunda, Sena, Barwe, Tsonga, Venda.

Luc

Marc655

10th February 2006, 08:59 PM

Hi Luc,

Thank you for that. I wasn't sure whether they were Shona or Matebele. I actually used to live out in Zimbabwe for 3 years. Now that I've left I wish I'd collected more of their weapons whilst I was there.

Marc