Slightly odd african club...

kronckew · 19th December 2014, 06:06 PM

found this on e-pray. billed as a south african root ball zulu knobkerry, it has a tail! i suspect the origin may be a bit further north.

i may also be wrong, and frequently am.

appears to be a short lanyard made from a strip of animal hide lashed on with string and tar to the end of the shaft. the ball end is darkened and has a few cracks & fissures like a root ball.

listing details:
Measures approx 43 cm long (top of head to tip of strap) x 5 cm wide (max)
Total unpacked weight approx 90 grams

(1 queried the weight before the auction ended, vendor said it was a typo & is really 900 grams (2 lb. - we shall see the actual weight when it arrives.)

jaxonrice · 21st December 2014, 12:13 PM

Nice club. I agree with your assessment that it is probably not Zulu and originates from further North. The form and length suggest that its a 'Rungu' throwing club - I've seen similar clubs attributed to the Gogo peoples of Tanzania.

kronckew · 21st December 2014, 05:43 PM

i have a pair of maasai rungu, i'll compare them when this new club arrives.

19th December 2014, 06:06 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	Slightly odd african club... found this on e-pray. billed as a south african root ball zulu knobkerry, it has a tail! i suspect the origin may be a bit further north. i may also be wrong, and frequently am. appears to be a short lanyard made from a strip of animal hide lashed on with string and tar to the end of the shaft. the ball end is darkened and has a few cracks & fissures like a root ball. listing details: Measures approx 43 cm long (top of head to tip of strap) x 5 cm wide (max) Total unpacked weight approx 90 grams (1 queried the weight before the auction ended, vendor said it was a typo & is really 900 grams (2 lb. - we shall see the actual weight when it arrives.) Attached Images

21st December 2014, 05:43 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	i have a pair of maasai rungu, i'll compare them when this new club arrives. Attached Images

21st December 2014, 12:13 PM	#2
jaxonrice Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 6	Nice club. I agree with your assessment that it is probably not Zulu and originates from further North. The form and length suggest that its a 'Rungu' throwing club - I've seen similar clubs attributed to the Gogo peoples of Tanzania.