Mandingo Shield

tom hyle · 22nd March 2005, 02:39 AM

Yeah, Manding=Mandingo. The form Mandingo is out of fashion/politically incorrect in current N America; whether that is because "Manding" is more linguistically correct, or whether it's because of negative connotations from works of fiction and racist retoric (the term "Mandingo" for some reason conjures in the N American mind a very barbaric and warlike image; moreso than probably any other African tribe). People in general N American populace are generally unaware this is a real ethnic group; many consider "Mandingo" and the image that accompanies it to be a racial slur; some have tried to argue me out of my "racist" concept that there is such a people

Conogre · 29th March 2005, 06:21 PM

The pitfalls of using someone else's photos, even with their permission....the shield arrived yesterday and it's definitely NOT a dance shield, nor is it little...the dimensions are 18 1/2" high and 35" side to side, weighing in at 7 1/2 pounds!!!
There are very old cut marks evident in several places making me think that this is a very real war shield.
I tried to get Justin tho take a pic with me holding it last night for comparison, but alas the beer had flowed too freely, so I'll try again when I can get someone on the other side of the camera.
A lot of the confusion about the word "Mandingo" by the way arises out of 1950's novels and cheesey 1960's movies about inter-racial plantation sex in the American slave era south, with most in the US familiar with the genre concepts rather than aquainted with the real African tribe.
That spoon, by the way appears to be Ethiopian to me or possibly even Dahomey, from Benin, with both areas having worn thoose fez type hats.
In Spring's book the women of the King's Wives regiment from Dahomey are shown wearing them in two or three different illustrations.
Mike

Yannis · 29th March 2005, 07:35 PM

Nice shield. I like the artwork on it. The soldier in the left looks like European (English or French) of 19th century. For me this is a major proof of an original item. They shield themselves against (or with) a man of power.

Conogre · 30th March 2005, 12:56 AM

Very true Yannis.
Many American Indian clubs were fashioned to resemble rifles in an attempt to "steal their thunder" in battle, likewise some South Pacific war clubs and MANY African axes and prestige swords.
Often picturing the enemy on the front was supposed to give the user immunity to bullets rather like the animistic concept of "naming a demon", thus taking away it's power, a practice that even found its way into Judaism and even Christianity as part of the exorcism rights.
It's nice when the surprises are on the positive side, while all too often only the horror stories about frauds are heard.
Mike

22nd March 2005, 02:39 AM	#1
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Yeah, Manding=Mandingo. The form Mandingo is out of fashion/politically incorrect in current N America; whether that is because "Manding" is more linguistically correct, or whether it's because of negative connotations from works of fiction and racist retoric (the term "Mandingo" for some reason conjures in the N American mind a very barbaric and warlike image; moreso than probably any other African tribe). People in general N American populace are generally unaware this is a real ethnic group; many consider "Mandingo" and the image that accompanies it to be a racial slur; some have tried to argue me out of my "racist" concept that there is such a people

29th March 2005, 06:21 PM	#2
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	The pitfalls of using someone else's photos, even with their permission....the shield arrived yesterday and it's definitely NOT a dance shield, nor is it little...the dimensions are 18 1/2" high and 35" side to side, weighing in at 7 1/2 pounds!!! There are very old cut marks evident in several places making me think that this is a very real war shield. I tried to get Justin tho take a pic with me holding it last night for comparison, but alas the beer had flowed too freely, so I'll try again when I can get someone on the other side of the camera. A lot of the confusion about the word "Mandingo" by the way arises out of 1950's novels and cheesey 1960's movies about inter-racial plantation sex in the American slave era south, with most in the US familiar with the genre concepts rather than aquainted with the real African tribe. That spoon, by the way appears to be Ethiopian to me or possibly even Dahomey, from Benin, with both areas having worn thoose fez type hats. In Spring's book the women of the King's Wives regiment from Dahomey are shown wearing them in two or three different illustrations. Mike

29th March 2005, 07:35 PM	#3
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	Nice shield. I like the artwork on it. The soldier in the left looks like European (English or French) of 19th century. For me this is a major proof of an original item. They shield themselves against (or with) a man of power.

30th March 2005, 12:56 AM	#4
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Very true Yannis. Many American Indian clubs were fashioned to resemble rifles in an attempt to "steal their thunder" in battle, likewise some South Pacific war clubs and MANY African axes and prestige swords. Often picturing the enemy on the front was supposed to give the user immunity to bullets rather like the animistic concept of "naming a demon", thus taking away it's power, a practice that even found its way into Judaism and even Christianity as part of the exorcism rights. It's nice when the surprises are on the positive side, while all too often only the horror stories about frauds are heard. Mike