ZULU REFRENCE AND QUESTIONS

kronckew · 29th December 2010, 09:03 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, 02:21 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, 02:58 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, 04:27 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, 05:58 AM

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

Tim Simmons · 31st December 2010, 12:01 PM

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

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

Nagawarrior · 31st December 2010, 12:30 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!

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 12th December 2011, 02:33 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, 10:38 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, 07:10 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.

30th December 2010, 02:21 AM	#2
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 02:37 AM.

30th December 2010, 02:58 AM	#3
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, 04:27 AM	#4
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

29th December 2010, 09:03 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	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, 05:58 AM	#5
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 372	Umm, Rorke's drift as opposed to Borke's rift

31st December 2010, 12:01 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Like that spear Barry. Thought I might add this thread. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...+zulu+interest

29th June 2013, 10:38 AM	#9
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, 07:10 PM	#10
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.