Zulu Assegai descriptions

The Double D · 16th December 2006, 06:08 PM

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.

A.T. Bryant in The Zulu People gives this additional information. "In the iKebezane assegai (confined to Swazis, Natal Natives and Mpondos) one half of the blade, back and front , but on opposite sides was grooved concavely.

I used this description to describe the small spear up thread. This week I got this spear.

This spear is 45 inches long (114.5 cm ). Blade is 16 inches long by 2 inches wide (40 cm x 5 cm). No exposed shaft, concave blade and no swollen butt.

I think this new spear more correctly fits the description of iKhebezane than the ligther one. Both spears were made using the same manufacturing techniques.

The new spear is also very definitely a stabbing spear.

The Double D · 16th December 2006, 06:30 PM

inGcula

Overall length 53 inches (135 cm). Blade 4 1/2 inches by 7/8 inches (11 cm x 2.2 cm) Shank 7 1/2 inches (190 cm) Flared butt.

Tim Simmons · 16th December 2006, 07:13 PM

These are rather nice. I like the iKhebezane a good find. I wonder if this blade is obtained through trade or is it made by Zulu smiths? Very interesting i would not of thought this was from so far south. I would have said Mashona land or further north. You are getting a nice colletion going.

The Double D · 16th December 2006, 07:41 PM

A.T. Bryant credits the iKebezane assegai to Swazis, Natal Natives and Mpondos. All Nguni's as well as the Zulu's if I under stand the anthropolgy right. All those tribes surround Zululand.

By trade, by conquest, to the victor go the spoils. Food, cattle, weapons and women.

I will be spending Christmas at Isandlwana Lodge and they have arrange for me to visit a blacksmith. I hope he can shed some light on this.

Tim Simmons · 17th December 2006, 12:00 PM

As Southern African is at the top again I just have to add this. I got it today at one of those military junk fairs, I really should not have spent any money at all!!!

especially as it was not much of a bargain. So I post it to get good mileage.

Douglas does that book with all the spear info mention anything about sticks and staffs?

ggoudie · 17th December 2006, 01:11 PM

Nice stick Tim is it a real club or some form of status ?

The Double D · 17th December 2006, 03:30 PM

I'll start another topic with Zulu sticks and the descriptions from Krige. Then we can keep this topic assegais and have a separate for knobkerries. Got a couple of new ones to show you.

Tim Simmons · 17th December 2006, 03:39 PM

Thank you ggoudie, It must be a prestige item as it is far too light to be a weapon of war. It may also be more of an East African item. This picture from Men-at-Arms series "Warrior Peoples of East Africa 1840-1900" shows an early Turkana warrior in 1888. The stick here has strong similarities and searching knobkerries, I have found nothing as distinct as this but many beautiful Southern clubs of varied form. So I think it safe to assume Turkana, which I like all the more for the money I should have kept safe from the demon inside.

17th December 2006, 12:00 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	not a spear but a stick As Southern African is at the top again I just have to add this. I got it today at one of those military junk fairs, I really should not have spent any money at all!!! especially as it was not much of a bargain. So I post it to get good mileage. Douglas does that book with all the spear info mention anything about sticks and staffs? Attached Images

17th December 2006, 03:39 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Thank you ggoudie, It must be a prestige item as it is far too light to be a weapon of war. It may also be more of an East African item. This picture from Men-at-Arms series "Warrior Peoples of East Africa 1840-1900" shows an early Turkana warrior in 1888. The stick here has strong similarities and searching knobkerries, I have found nothing as distinct as this but many beautiful Southern clubs of varied form. So I think it safe to assume Turkana, which I like all the more for the money I should have kept safe from the demon inside. Attached Images

16th December 2006, 06:08 PM	#1
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	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. A.T. Bryant in The Zulu People gives this additional information. "In the iKebezane assegai (confined to Swazis, Natal Natives and Mpondos) one half of the blade, back and front , but on opposite sides was grooved concavely. I used this description to describe the small spear up thread. This week I got this spear. This spear is 45 inches long (114.5 cm ). Blade is 16 inches long by 2 inches wide (40 cm x 5 cm). No exposed shaft, concave blade and no swollen butt. I think this new spear more correctly fits the description of iKhebezane than the ligther one. Both spears were made using the same manufacturing techniques. The new spear is also very definitely a stabbing spear.

16th December 2006, 06:30 PM	#2
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	inGcula Overall length 53 inches (135 cm). Blade 4 1/2 inches by 7/8 inches (11 cm x 2.2 cm) Shank 7 1/2 inches (190 cm) Flared butt.

16th December 2006, 07:13 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	These are rather nice. I like the iKhebezane a good find. I wonder if this blade is obtained through trade or is it made by Zulu smiths? Very interesting i would not of thought this was from so far south. I would have said Mashona land or further north. You are getting a nice colletion going.

16th December 2006, 07:41 PM	#4
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	A.T. Bryant credits the iKebezane assegai to Swazis, Natal Natives and Mpondos. All Nguni's as well as the Zulu's if I under stand the anthropolgy right. All those tribes surround Zululand. By trade, by conquest, to the victor go the spoils. Food, cattle, weapons and women. I will be spending Christmas at Isandlwana Lodge and they have arrange for me to visit a blacksmith. I hope he can shed some light on this.

17th December 2006, 01:11 PM	#6
ggoudie Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 29	Nice stick Tim is it a real club or some form of status ?

17th December 2006, 03:30 PM	#7
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	I'll start another topic with Zulu sticks and the descriptions from Krige. Then we can keep this topic assegais and have a separate for knobkerries. Got a couple of new ones to show you.