Large Zulu Shield uMbonambi Regiment

Description

Striking large original Zulu personal War Shield (ihawu). Not a tourist wall-hanger. Sun dried hide, hammered with stones, NOT modern vegetable or Chrome tanned like touristy pieces are. Collected at a stick fighting tournament near Empangeni Kwa-Zulu Natal during the conflict of the mid 1990s prior to first elections. A real fighting Shield.
This example has a visually very striking pattern, a colour traditionally associated with the uMbonambi ibutho in 1879. The uMbonambi played a prominent role in the Anglo-Zulu War, and were present at the battles of iSandlwana - where they were the first to penetrate the British line, earning for their warriors who killed a British soldier the right to wear the coveted iziqu 'bravery bead' necklace - Khambula and Ulundi.
The memories of the regiments of the Zulu wars, continues in the patterns of the contemporary Shields of the late 20th c. and today, such as this piece.
A stunning example.
Hide length 34.5"
Hide width 20"
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