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.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

16th December 2006, 06:08 PM	#13
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.