Henry Cele’s portrayal of Shaka wasn’t convincing enough for me, George. In the first instance I didn’t think he looked the part. It’s probably on account of having read a lot about Shaka, decades ago, that I had my own impression of him and how he would have looked and behaved.
Shaka
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_Zulu
Only known drawing of Shaka standing with
the long throwing assegai and the heavy shield
in 1824 - four years before his death.
Henry Cele
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Cele
Henry Cele (Jan 3, 1949 – November 2, 2007) was a South African actor famous for his chilling portrayal of Shaka Zulu in SABC’s Shaka Zulu miniseries. He was born in Durban, South Africa. He landed the role of Shaka Zulu after playing Shaka in a South African stage production of Shaka Zulu.
Henry also played a minor role in The Ghost and the Darkness. After Shaka Zulu he held various minor roles in action films like Point of Impact, and The Last Samurai. He had major roles in South African movies and television series. His son is a South African musician.
Prior to acting in Shaka Zulu, Henry ‘Black Cat’ Cele was a football (soccer) goalkeeper. He coached a professional soccer club in South Africa until his death.
After his acting career, Cele moved from his suburban home in Glenmore, South of Durban, and went back to Kwamashu township.
At the time of his death he had been in hospital for two weeks.
He was married to Jenny Hollander.
His last name is pronounced with a dental click (similar to the English click “tsk-tsk” used for disapproval). In isiZulu, the letter c is a tenuis consonant.
Shaka Zulu star Henry Cele dies
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20071102175937939C777165
November 02 2007 at 06:21PM
Actor Henry Cele, famous for his role as Shaka Zulu, died in Durban’s St Augustine’s Hospital on Friday afternoon.
The 58-year old actor passed away on Friday afternoon in the intensive care unit of the hospital, a statement released by hospital said.
He had been admitted to the hospital more than a week ago with a chest infection.
Cele became famous for his chilling portrayal of Shaka Zulu in the SABC’s 1986 Shaka Zulu miniseries, and the subsequent film that also starred Edward Fox and Christopher Lee.
He also starred in films such as the 1993 film Point of Impact and the 1990 film The Last Samurai.
Born in Durban in 1949, Cele was a professional soccer player prior to becoming an actor.
He was known as Henry ‘Black Cat’ Cele in his position as goalkeeper for several professional soccer clubs.
His funeral will be held next week in Durban. His wife, Jenny Hollander, was at his bedside when he passed away. - Sapa
Memorial Tribute:
http://www.respectance.com/henrycele
58 years old
Jan 30, 1949 - Nov 2, 2007
Durban, South Africa
ALSO:
http://www.actors-sa.com/a_cele.html
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0147962/
http://blog.fring.com/southafrica/?p=111
Interesting picture, George. It was a part of the front cover design of a book about Shaka which I read back in 1973. I believe the book is out of print but could probably be acquired from second-hand bookshops.
I never thought the picture to be a genuine likeness, even though it is contempory. Shaka was reported to have gained a lot of weight over the years which made him quite large in his later life. This is not inconsistant with the Bantu culture, as their Kings were often referred to as the ‘Great Elephant’ as they were considered rich in knowedge, authority and majesty. A thin or lean man was considered to be a poor man without stature or presence and could never be a king. Of course it was inconsistant to portray Shaka, the man who is reputed to have developed the stabbing spear and the tactics of mobility, as holding an over-sized spear and shield.
Francis Fynn wrote much about Shaka, and I always assumed the picture to be an artists impression, not authentic in dress and accutrements, as with many romantic pictures of that time.
Nathaniel Isaacs, who wrote about Shaka in Travels and Adventures in Eastern Africa, published in 1836, wrote to a fellow author, Henry Francis Fynn, advising him to smear Shaka and his successor, Dingane: “Make them out to be as bloodthirsty as you can and endeavour to give an estimation of the number of people they have murdered during their reign[s].” This would help sell Fynn’s book and encourage British annexation of Zulu lands, which would mean a “fortune” for both authors. Dr Wylie said this had set the tone for future distortions, such as the 1980s television series Shaka Zulu, starring Henry Cele.
Not all accept the debunking. Petros Sibani, a historian and tour guide of Zulu battlefields, said there was no doubting Shaka “was a cruel and ruthless man but they were cruel and ruthless times”.
Thanks for the insight 32Bravo,
Yes, I guess it was not uncommon to romanticise the illustrations of that era. The shield does seem to be overly large even for the larger shield that Shaka was reputed to have introduced. According to wikipedia, the Zulu retained the larger throwing spear as an initial missile weapon, until the impis closed with the enemy, hand to hand (citation needed). Have you read anything that would confirm that statement?
Reading the quote below, their tactics sound very similar to those of the Roman legions.
With regard to long throwing assegai, the short-handled/long-bladed “Iklwa” stabbing spear, large cowhide shield and tactic of using shield’s left side to hook the enemy’s shield to the right, exposing his ribs for a fatal spear stab.
Similar to Roman legionary armed with two heavy javelins called “pila” (pilum - singular), the short sword called a “gladius”, chain mail (lorica hamata) or banded armour (lorica segmentata), helmet and rectangular shield (scutum). Conventionally, the javelins would be thrown before engaging the enemy, at which point the gladius would be drawn. The soldier generally led with his shield and thrust with his sword.
Shaka’s social and military revolution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_Zulu#Shaka.27s_social_and_military_revolution
Weapons changes
Shaka is often said to have been dissatisfied with the long throwing assegai, and credited with introducing a new variant of the weapon—the Iklwa, a short stabbing spear, with a long, sword like spearhead. It was named, allegedly, for the sound made as it went in, then out, of the body. Shaka is also supposed to have introduced a larger, heavier shield made of cowhide and to have taught each warrior how to use the shield’s left side to hook the enemy’s shield to the right, exposing his ribs for a fatal spear stab. The throwing spear was not discarded, but used as an initial missile weapon, until the impis closed with the enemy, hand to hand[citation needed].
Introduction of a shorter stabbing spear area makes practical sense if an attack is to be pressed home, versus ritualized stand-off encounters involving throwing spears, as is the use of a larger shield in such close quarters combat. Implementation of a more reliable hand-held weapon would have been a must for aggressive raiding operations implemented under the Shakan regime[citation needed].
Roman legion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_legion
Roman Republic (509-107 BC)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_legion#Roman_Republic_.28509-107_BC.29Heavy infantry: This was the principal unit of the legion. The heavy infantry was composed of citizen legionaries that could afford the equipment composed of an iron helmet, shield, armour and pilum, a heavy javelin whose range was about 30 meters. after 387 BC the preferred weapon for the hastati and principes was the gladius, a short sword. Their hobnailed sandals (caligae) were also an effective weapon against a fallen enemy. Prior to the Marian reforms (see below) the heavy infantry was subdivided, according to the legionaries’ experience, into three separate lines:
The hastati (sing. hastatus) were the youngest, less reliable troops.
The principes (sing. princeps), men in their prime ages (late twenties to early thirties).
The triarii (sing. triarius) were the veteran soldiers; only in extreme situations would they be used in battle and rested one knee down when unengaged. They were equipped with spears rather than the pilum and gladius (the hastati and pricipes stopped using them during 387 bc), so they fought in a phalanx, and the sight of an advanced shield wall in front of them discouraged exultant enemies pursuing hastati and principes.
Each of these three lines was subdivided into maniples, each consisting of two centuries of 60 men commanded by the senior of the two centurions. Centuries were normally 60 soldiers each at this time in the hastati and principes(no longer 100 men), with 120 strong maniples. There were generally 10 maniples of hastati 10 maniples of principes and 5 triarii, plus about 1200 velites and 300 cavalry which wre as mentioned many times before made of 10 units 30 men strong, giving the mid republican legion a nominal strength of about 4200. Later on when the legions undertook the marian reforms and was made up of 80 strong centuries each century had its standard and was made up of ten units called contubernia. In a contubernium, there would be eight soldiers who shared a tent, millstone, a mule and cooking pot (depending on duration of tour). Because maniples were their main tactical elements, the legions of the early Republic are sometimes referred to as Manipular legions.
Late Republic (107-30BC)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_legion#Late_Republic_.28107-30BC.29The legions of the Late Republic and Early Empire are often called Marian legions. Following the Battle of Vercellae in 101 BC, Marius granted all Italian soldiers Roman citizenship. He justified this action to the Senate by saying that in the din of battle he could not distinguish Roman from ally. This effectively eliminated the notion of allied legions; henceforth all Italian legions would be regarded as Roman Legions, and full Roman citizenship was open to all the regions of Italy. Thus the three different types of heavy infantry were replaced by a single, standard type based on the Principes: armed with two heavy javelins called pila, the short sword called gladius, chain mail (lorica hamata) or banded armour (lorica segmentata), helmet and rectangular shield (scutum).
The role of allied legions would eventually be taken up by contingents of allied auxiliary troops, called Auxilia. Each legion had an auxilia of similar size, which contained specialist units, engineers and pioneers, artillerymen and craftsmen, service and support personnel and irregular units made up of non-citizens, mercenaries and local militia. These were usually formed into complete units such as light cavalry, light infantry or velites, and labourers. There was also a reconnaissance squad of 10 or more light mounted infantry called speculatores who could also serve as messengers or even as an early form of military intelligence service.
As part of the Marian reforms, the legions’ internal organization was standardized. Each legion was divided into cohorts. Prior to this, cohorts had been temporary administrative units or tactical task forces of several maniples, even more transitory than that of the legions of the early republic themselves. Now the cohorts were ten permanent units, composed of 6 and in the case of the first cohort 8 centuries each led by a centurion assisted by an optio, a soldier who could read and write. These came to form the basic tactical unit of the legions. The senior centurion of the legion was called the primus pilus, a career soldier and advisor to the legate that sometimes was promoted to the higher rank.
Every legion had a baggage train of 640 mules or about 1 mule for every 8 legionaries. To keep these baggage trains from becoming too large and slow, Marius had each infantryman carry as much of his own equipment as he could, including his own armour, weapons and 15 days’ rations, for about 50–60 pounds of load total. To make this easier, he issued each legionary a forked stick to carry their loads on their shoulders. The soldiers were nicknamed Marius’ Mules due to the amount of gear they had to carry themselves. This arrangement allowed for the supply train to become detached from the main body of the legion, thus greatly increasing the army’s speed while on the march.
Marian reforms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_reforms
Gladius
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladius
Gladius is a Latin word for shortsword…A fully-equipped Roman soldier would have been armed with a shield (scutum), several javelins (pila), a sword (gladius), probably a dagger (pugio) and perhaps a number of darts (plumbatae). Conventionally, the javelins would be thrown before engaging the enemy, at which point the gladius would be drawn. The soldier generally led with his shield and thrust with his sword.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladius#Description
Gladii were two-edged for cutting and had a tapered point for stabbing during thrusting. A solid grip was provided by a knobbed hilt added on, possibly with ridges for the fingers. Blade strength was achieved by welding together strips, in which case the sword had a channel down the center, or by fashioning a single piece of high-carbon steel, rhomboidal in cross-section. The owner’s name was often engraved or punched on the blade.Stabbing was a very efficient technique as stabbing wounds, especially in the abdominal area, were almost always deadly (see the quotation from Vegetius under pugio).
Pilum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilum
The pilum (plural pila) was a heavy javelin commonly used by the Roman army in ancient times. It was generally about two meters long overall, consisting of an iron shank about 7 mm in diameter and 60 cm long with pyramidal head.
Legionaries of the Late Republic and Early Empire often carried two pila, with one sometimes being lighter than the other. Standard tactics called for a Roman soldier to throw his pilum (both if there was time) at the enemy just before charging to engage with his gladius.
Yes, george, I have read of them using the throwing spear in the initial contact, particularly the ‘chest ’ and ‘loin’ formations’. As I mentioned earlier, their main weaponry seemed to consist of the throwing and stabbing spears and the club. However, it was the Iklwa, stabbing spear, for which they were most feared, as it ‘took no prisoners’. I have considered the same comparison with the Roman legions gladus and javelin. They both often used their weapons in a similar fashion. I guess the discovery and use of these methods is a result of the natural and technological progression of an emergent, military society intent on anihilation and conquest as opposed to minor skirmishes over cattle and women?
Some Zulu elephant culture:
Zulu Name: Indlovu - The forceful one!
The royal kraal - Umgungundlovu (the place of the Great Elephant).
Elephant’s Wisdom Includes:
- Strength
- Royalty
- Connection to ancient wisdom
- Removal of obstacles and barriers
- Confidence
- Patience
- Using educational opportunities
Once the Zulu warriors had set upon the British forces, they were able to engage in brutal hand-to-hand combat. A number of seemingly simple yet deadly weapons filled their arsenal. The most devastating was the iklwa, or stabbing spear, which is said to be named for the sound it makes as it is drawn from a body. According to legend, the iklwa was developed by Shaka, who wanted his warriors to engage their enemies at close range, and not simply toss their long spears from a distance, leaving them unarmed. The iklwa had a long, wide flat blade, about 14 to 18 inches long, attached to a staff. The entire spear was three-and-a-half to four feet long, and was thrust into the enemy with an underhanded motion, to maximize the force of the blow.
Warriors also carried an iwisa, or knobkerrie – a stick with a round knob at the end, about four inches or so in diameter, all intricately carved from a single piece of wood. Zulu craftsmen used the hardest possible woods for the weapon. The best was iron wood, a dark, almost black, heavy wood, which produced an elegant, vicious weapon. “If you can dissociate what they were used for, they are quite interesting and attractive artifacts,” says Knight. Like the stabbing spear, the iwisa was a close-quarter weapon. “You’d sort of try and knock the other guy’s brains out with it,” Knight says. “There was nothing very sophisticated about it.”
Zulu warriors also wielded shields, which they used both to protect themselves and as an offensive weapon. They were trained to hook the shield behind their enemy’s shield, and push it out of the way, which exposed the foe’s body to attack. In addition, some warriors still carried long throwing spears; others had European firearms, like old flintlock muskets, “but they weren’t very skilled in using them, and had to use poor powder and homemade bullets,” Knight says. Chiefs often carried axes with triangular-shaped blades, “although these were more of a symbol of status,” Knight adds.
Of course, the Zulu might never have vanquished the British at Isandlwana without the help of traditional Zulu medicines. Some scholars have suggested that Zulu pharmacopoeia provided more of a psychological boost than any real physiological effect. But recent scientific studies show that the medicines contained some very potent drugs. For example, warriors were given a cannabis (marijuana)-based snuff to take during battle. Analysis of the snuff has revealed that it contained extremely high levels of THC, a powerful hallucinogen, and yet no detectable levels of the chemicals that cause the sedative effects of marijuana.
At the beginning of the battle of Isandlwana, the Zulus were discovered as they sat around a waterhole taking snuff. Somewhat akin to the British taking their Gin ration. 
In addition, warriors sometimes ingested a hallucinogenic mushroom containing a toxin called muscimol. The chemical, present in fly agaric – a mushroom that can attract and kill flies – is said to induce a state of expanded perception in those who ingest it. Warriors who consumed those mushrooms, researchers speculate, might have been utterly without fear, believing themselves impervious to British bullets.
When, at Isandlwana, the British used canon against the attacking Zulus, the Zulus went to ground. However, they observed that the gunners stepped away from the guns at the point of firing, so the Zulus merely dropped as they saw the gunners step back, and then continued their charge once the shell had exploded - not quite the ignorant, nonthinking savage.
Thanks for the confirmation 32Bravo,
Reminds me of that Biblical Proverb about there being nothing new under the sun.
Thanks for the insight into Zulu culture. Very interesting 32Bravo
Fascinating 32Bravo
The Zulu’s use of drugs and their ferocity reminds me somewhat of the Moro warriors of the southern Philippines during the Moro Rebellion of 1902-1913.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/45_back_military.htm
In the late 1890s when we were at war in the Philippines the Army had switched to a DA .38 Long Colt caliber revolver. We were facing a new type of enemy, the Muslin extremist, the Moro. They were known to use native drugs that inhibited the sensation of pain. This meant that when they went into battle with US soldiers and got shot by a rather anemic .38 caliber revolver it just did not reliably stop the Moro. After numerous US deaths, old Colt 45 revolvers, long in storage back in the States, were rushed to the Philippines and issued to the troops.
Even hopped-up Moros were unable to disregard the pain of a 45 round, no matter how big a dose of native pain killer they had taken.
http://www.donaldsensing.com/2003/12/nato-standard-pistol-is-worthless.html
In fact, the .45 Colt was developed to replace the .38-caliber revolver used by US soldiers fighting the Moros, tribesmen in the Philippines who rebelled against US rule (and Spanish rule before that). The .38 couldn’t be relied on to put the Moros down; they would go into battle well fortified with homemade booze and local drugs. Some American soldiers were killed after pumping all six shots of the cylinder into a Moro, who was so anesthetized he couldn’t feel the pain and so lean muscled that the weak .38 round often would not penetrate deep enough to drop him. And of course, reloading a revolver then - before speedloaders were invented - was a lengthy task.
http://www.tacticalforums.com/cgi-bin/tacticalubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=78;t=001448
The young aspirants for martyrdom were then bathed, the nails were trimmed to the quick and the teeth were washed. The eyebrows were shaved until they resembled “a moon two days old.” The head was shaved, the scanty beard was plucked, and the waist was encircled with a tight, wide band for strengthening effect. The candidate was clothed in a white robe and crowned with a white turban. The genitals were bound tightly with cords, and the body was bound here and there with cords, tightly, to prevent circulation and loss of blood. A man so prepared was able to remain on his feet although dying from fatal wounds.
http://www.tacticalforums.com/cgi-bin/tacticalubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=78;t=001448
Wound ballistics as it pertains to firearms was probably not something that they considered. You have to remember that for centuries Moro warriors used edged weapons as a way of life. Typical injuries to extremities and even amputations of arms in particular would be a consequence of such close range fighting with swords such as the Kris. Tying off extremities would limit blood loss from such injuries (basically you have tourniquets before you get wounded). The use of drugs was also encouraged to reduce fear and reduce pain (also not uncommon in many African and Middle Eastern regions). Not to mention that these men were extremely determined and raised from the time they were children to be warriors (ultimate example of warrior mindset).The result is that these men were prepared to die and fight till the end. The wraps on their bodies that restricted blood loss from severe cuts due to edged weapons tended to do the same for rifle and pistol wounds (which are often much less severe)
Moro Rebellion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moro_rebellion
http://www.ezania.net/library/articles/philippines/moro_muslims_engage_usa_army.htm
ALSO:
http://morolandhistory.com/Articles/Legend%20of%20Colt%2045.pdf
The .45 round was devastating, especially the high velocity type. The wounds they inflicted caused massive internal trauma to bone and tissue. I doubt there’s a drug which could enable a person to absorb the pain and remain alert. What the drugs did achieve, was to remove the fear of becoming a casualty.
BIG .45’s:
British Martini-Henry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martini-Henry
Specifications
Weight 9 lb 5 oz (unloaded)
Length 52in (1250mm)
Cartridge .577/450 Martini-Henry
Calibre .577/450 Martini-Henry
Action Martini Falling Block/Peabody action
Rate of fire 10 rounds/minute
Muzzle velocity 900 ft/s
Effective range 600yds
Maximum range 1500yds
Feed system Single shot
Sights Sliding ramp rear sights, Fixed-post front sightsIn their original chambering, the rifles fired a .451-inch (11.455 mm) rimmed cartridge, known today as the .577/450, a bottle-neck design with the same base as the .577 cartridge of the Snider-Enfield and, with 85 grains (5.51 g) of powder, notorious for its heavy recoil. The cartridge case was ejected to the rear when the lever was operated.
(From Left to Right): A .577 Snider cartridge, a Zulu War-era rolled brass foil .577/450 Martini-Henry Cartidge, a later drawn brass .577/450 Martini-Henry cartridge, and a .303 British Mk VII SAA Ball cartridge.
The original cartridge case was made of a thin sheet of brass rolled around a mandrel, which was then soldered to an iron base. These cartridges were assembled by the orphaned children of British Soldiers, and were relatively cheap to produce. They were found to be vulnerable to being easily damaged, and produced inferior muzzle velocities. Later, the rolled brass case was replaced by a solid brass version which remedied both of these problems. There was also a Carbine version of the Boxer-Henry .45 Caliber cartridge. This round used a 410 grain bullet with 70 grains of black powder, instead of the 480 grain bullet and 85 grains of powder used in the infantry rifle load.
Consider the 480 grain bullet of the .577/450 Martini-Henry cartridge compared to the 230 grain bullet of the .45 ACP ball ammunition used by the Colt M1911A1 automatic (service pistol).
Martini-Henry - More:
http://www.martinihenry.com/
http://www.antiquestopic.com/martini-henry-rifle-1881/
American .45-70
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.45-70
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army’s Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873 .45 caliber rifle, known to collectors (but never to the Army) as the “Trapdoor Springfield.” The new cartridge was a replacement for the stop-gap .50-70 Government cartridge which had been adopted in 1866, one year after the end of the American Civil War.
For comparison: a .30-06, .45-70, and .50-90, respectively.405 grain bullet and 70 grains of powder initially.
It was last used in quantity during the Spanish-American War, and was not completely purged from the inventory until well into the 20th century.
1873 Springfield Trapdoor Rifles and Carbines
http://www.marstar.ca/gf-pedersoli/Pedersoli-1873-Trapdoor.shtm
The design of the Springfield Trapdoor action is largely based upon its predecessor whose designer, Master Armourer E.S. Allin of Springfield Armory, developed as a conversion for the approximately 1,500,000 muzzle- loading percussion rifles left over from the Civil war - which while servicable were demonstrably obsolete with the advent and adoption of reliable cartridge-firing long arms. As was the case with many other armies the world over (one notable example being the British with their Snider-Enfield conversion rifles) the U.S. army were more open to adopting a cost-efficient conversion system than buying all new rifles (not to mention retraining tens of thousands of troops) but by the 1870s a replacement was badly needed for the aging M1868 .50 calibre Springfield. The ‘Second Allin’ (or ‘trapdoor’) action was modified but retained, the bore diameter reduced to .45, and the new rifle given the designation of its year of adoption (1873).
M1873 to M1888 US Springfield:
http://www.militaryrifles.com/US/73-88Allin.htm
Bayete Nkosi.
I’m not that much of a spec/tech type of chap. I only used to take in as much as was required to do the job. So, I’m not much of a one for lecturing others on balistics as there are others on this site, perhaps, better qualified than I. However, for those who do not have much knowledge and are interested I think I’ll explain one or two things, and maybe others can elaborate.
In the time of the smooth-bore musket, the ball would more or less bounce along the barrel of the weapon before exiting from the barrel, and it’s inal flight was unpredictable. As technology improved, a spiralling groove (which we call rifling) was added to the inside of the barrel in order to make the round spin which in turn made it more accurate (much the same as spinning a rugby ball or American football, when passing). As the round travels through the air at supersonic speed, it creates a vortex caused by the spinning bullet leaving a vacuum behind and the air rushing back into the void. This vortex is known to trained marksmen and spotters as ‘Swirl’, and, basically, a trained observer is able to follow its progress to a target and give corrections to the marksman.
Now, the spinning does not end when the round strikes its target. The round punches its way through any resistance i.e. bone and tissue and as it does so it creates a vacuum within the body which sucks in air at great force. The larger the calibre of weapon, the greater the damage to soft tissue and bone. So, the inrush of air sucks in loose material (clothing, bone and tissue) which has been damaged by the round passing through the body, and bursts out of the other side creating an exit wound. The round doesn’t drill through resistance, it punches its way through with great force.
Sometimes, when the round strikes hard tissue i.e. bone, it is deflected or even broken, but it usually continues travelling at great speed causing massive internal injuries, which might not be observable externally (and explains why the Zulus thought the bullets were poisened), and/or gaping exit wounds.
As one chap in the film Zulu Dawn commented “Yeah, but bullets run-out…but spears don’t!”
George, here’s a little I found in book, hiding in the loft, regarding shields and spears:
"Each warrior carried the characteristic oval cow-hide war shield of the Zulu. These shields were the property of the state rather than the individual, and were kept in special stores and issued when mustered for duty. The original Shakan shield, the isihlangu, was as much as five feet tall by thirty inches wide, and was designed to shelter a warrior from chin to ankles. By 1879 most isihlangu shields were perhaps six inches smaller all round, and a smaller shield was most popular. This was the umbhumbulosu, which had been intoroduced by Cetshwayo in the civil war of 1856, and was about 40 inches long by 20 inches wide.
The isihlangu was probably confined to older, more conservative men."
More on the spears later.
“The iklwa, the prototype weapon introduced by Shaka, had a fearsome blade some 18 inches long and an inch and half wide at the base, mounted on a 30 inch shaft. By 1879 such impressive weapons were losing their popularity in favour of narrower, shorter-bladed variants, but the stabbing spear remained an extremely effective weapon under the right circumstances. It was wielded in practised harmony with the movements of the big leather shield recalling classic combat techniques of the ancient Roman legionary with his short sword.
Most men also carried one or two lighter throwing spears, izijula, with smaller blades. In flight the weapon could achieve considerable velocity, and it must have been able to transfix a human target easily; on the whole, however, the British were unimpressed.”
“…on the whole, however, the British were unimpressed” I’m sure those at isandlwana might beg to differ.
By the way. I’ve just purchased a copy of this book for a friend as a gift. naturally, I had a peak - it’s a good read in its own right.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zulu-Some-Behind-Making-Movie/dp/0953192660
By the way. On matters ulu, did anyone ever see the film the ‘Naked Prey’?
http://videodetective.com/default.aspx?PublishedID=504
Not unlike the early scenes of ‘The Run of the Arrow’
Definitely would not want to be on the receiving end of the Martini-Henry’s .45 caliber 480 grain bullet.
Guess we were not alone in noticing the similarities between Zulu and Roman combat techniques and weaponry.
Amen to that
Wow…thanks for the tip 32Bravo. This is a book I plan to order.
“Zulu”: With Some Guts Behind It, The Making of the Epic Movie (Hardcover)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zulu-Some-Behind-Making-Movie/dp/0953192660
Synopsis
This is the full story of the making of Zulu, one of the best-loved and most enduringly popular British films ever made. It tells the epic story of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift of 1879, in which barely 150 soldiers of the British Army in South Africa fought for twelve hours to hold an isolated mission station against sustained assault from 4000 highly disciplined Zulu warriors. Zulu enjoyed blockbusting box office success and now holds near-legendary status in the British popular imagination. Written in a lively and accessible style and lavishly illustrated throughout, this is the definitive account of the filming of one of the great movie epics. Covered in fascinating detail are such topics as: How hundreds of Zulu tribesmen, many of whom had never before seen a film, were taught to perform for the camera; Filming under Apartheid: vivid reminiscences of working in the midst of an oppressive political regime; We are taken behind the cameras with actors Stanley Baker, Michael Caine, Jack Hawkins, James Booth, Nigel Green and Ivor Emmanuel; How the battle was reconstructed against the spectacular backdrop of Natal’s Drakensberg mountain range. The book is based on three years of original research and dozens of new interviews with cast and crew members and their families. It includes: The original article by John Prebble, never before published in full; First-hand accounts of shooting the film, many never before published; Extracts from the screenplay and script notes, never before published; Extracts from letters and production documents, never before published; Hundreds of rare and unusual illustrations, many never before published; Biographies of all the principal actors and filmmakers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews:
An Excellent book!!!, 6 Oct 2005
By Gene R. Obrien (Union, New Jersey USA)If you love the movie ‘Zulu’ as I have since my father took me to see it in 1964, then this is the book for you. The only other way to get thisclose is to have actually been there during the filming. Probably one of the best ‘making of’ books written and Dr. Hall has done a superior job!!
The Making of an Epic Book., 16 Aug 2007
By Quiverbow (Kent, England)Anyone interested in how the film making process works should take note of this book. It may only concern itself with Zulu (the best film ever in my humble opinion) but it envelops far more: how screenplays come into being, casting actors, location and prop management, editing, and the trials of submitting a film for certification.
Until I read this, I knew nothing of the background to the film, merely what it was about. I knew 11 VCs were won at Rorke’s Drift, but not that 17 of the 112 men died. Filmed between 25th March and 26th July 1963, the inception went back as far as April 1958 with an article called ‘Slaughter in the Sun’ published in ‘Lilliput’ magazine. The author of that, John Prebble, turned it into a screenplay called Zulu (after many rewrites and revisions).
Sheldon Hall’s exhaustive research details scenes left on the cutting room floor, and not in a passing manner, with explanations of why they were excised. With this information, you’ll know why certain scenes would never have worked, too. Dozens of both on and off set photos compliment the commentary and every page is turned in anticipation of what secrets will be revealed.
You’ll also realise how much reviewers seem out of touch with the man-in-the-street. Reviewers shouldn’t concern themselves with speculation as to the likely social effects of the subject but to tell the reader whether it’s any good. This is more than good: it’s a work of art itself.
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