Mandingo Shield

Dreamk · 4th May 2005, 03:20 PM

I have somewhere a 19th century photography of the personal guard of a Western african local petty king using this very kind of shield. Judging by the pic it seems to be quite large sizedof shield, covering most of the body of some guards crouching behind their shield. As far as I remember it is not a Mandigo (present day Mali-Senegal border area) shield but a Cameroonian shield (French cameroon, southern to the Mandingo dewelling area). I'll try to fin the pic, scan it and post it here in the coming day.

Conogre · 4th May 2005, 03:58 PM

Here's a photo of me with the shield for perspective...excuse the quality of the photo, but Murphy's Law is in full effect again, with an overcast, rainy day BUT I have someone to take the photo (if this breaks anyone's monitor, my apologies beforehand! **grin**)
The shield seems to be a large sparring shield of the type used against spears, knives and thrown projectiles, relying on the user's speed and maneuverability to knock aside the threat, just heavy enough for protection while still light enough for quickness.
Viewed in this light, it's actually perfectly shaped and just the right size, muc harder to achieve than one would suspect.
Your comment about the Cameroon aspect may well be dead on as well, always a possibility with Africa's often fluid population moves according to the political pressures of the moment and tendencies towards tribal genocide.
Ranges often varied by surprisingly large areas over very short periods of time, always a major problem in relation to tribes and geography.
Mike

Lew · 4th May 2005, 05:57 PM

Hey Mike

Stop spending all your money on shields and swords and buy some clothes

Nice shield congrats!

Lew

Rick · 4th May 2005, 06:06 PM

Lew , you owe me a new keyboard !

Mike, who's the canine backup ?

Conogre · 5th May 2005, 08:35 AM

LOL!
Clothes, in Florida?
OK, I'll bite....why?
As to the back up, Rick, that's Loki, my 15 month old German shepherd/Doberman cross who tips the scales at about 115 lbs....the day I got him, at 4 weeks old, he inhaled a large cereal bowl of spicy chili without hesitation, a definite portent for the future.
While I use the affection method of training, on a partituarly stressful day I swatted his butt and broke 2 bones in my hand, which he took as an invitation to play..... I learn faster than he does.

Back to the photo....the shield is actually larger than many used like this and would actually stop a swing from a full sized sword if it had to.
As I said, when I recieved it, I was much more impressed than I had expected to be.
Any further info for the earlier Cameroon attributions would be appreciated.
Mike

tom hyle · 5th May 2005, 10:30 AM

These two N American scientists said they met a nude woman in the forest in S America. She circled them warily, staring, and demanded what they were trying to cover? Did they have a skin disease?.....she just had no idea what those foreigners were doing with all that cloth all over them

maybe neither did they

4th May 2005, 03:20 PM	#1
Dreamk Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1	So called Mandingo shield I have somewhere a 19th century photography of the personal guard of a Western african local petty king using this very kind of shield. Judging by the pic it seems to be quite large sizedof shield, covering most of the body of some guards crouching behind their shield. As far as I remember it is not a Mandigo (present day Mali-Senegal border area) shield but a Cameroonian shield (French cameroon, southern to the Mandingo dewelling area). I'll try to fin the pic, scan it and post it here in the coming day.

4th May 2005, 03:58 PM	#2
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Here's a photo of me with the shield for perspective...excuse the quality of the photo, but Murphy's Law is in full effect again, with an overcast, rainy day BUT I have someone to take the photo (if this breaks anyone's monitor, my apologies beforehand! grin) The shield seems to be a large sparring shield of the type used against spears, knives and thrown projectiles, relying on the user's speed and maneuverability to knock aside the threat, just heavy enough for protection while still light enough for quickness. Viewed in this light, it's actually perfectly shaped and just the right size, muc harder to achieve than one would suspect. Your comment about the Cameroon aspect may well be dead on as well, always a possibility with Africa's often fluid population moves according to the political pressures of the moment and tendencies towards tribal genocide. Ranges often varied by surprisingly large areas over very short periods of time, always a major problem in relation to tribes and geography. Mike Attached Images Last edited by Conogre; 4th May 2005 at 04:02 PM. Reason: add'l info

4th May 2005, 05:57 PM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hey Mike Stop spending all your money on shields and swords and buy some clothes Nice shield congrats! Lew

4th May 2005, 06:06 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,365	Lew , you owe me a new keyboard ! Mike, who's the canine backup ?

5th May 2005, 08:35 AM	#5
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	LOL! Clothes, in Florida? OK, I'll bite....why? As to the back up, Rick, that's Loki, my 15 month old German shepherd/Doberman cross who tips the scales at about 115 lbs....the day I got him, at 4 weeks old, he inhaled a large cereal bowl of spicy chili without hesitation, a definite portent for the future. While I use the affection method of training, on a partituarly stressful day I swatted his butt and broke 2 bones in my hand, which he took as an invitation to play..... I learn faster than he does. Back to the photo....the shield is actually larger than many used like this and would actually stop a swing from a full sized sword if it had to. As I said, when I recieved it, I was much more impressed than I had expected to be. Any further info for the earlier Cameroon attributions would be appreciated. Mike

5th May 2005, 10:30 AM	#6
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	These two N American scientists said they met a nude woman in the forest in S America. She circled them warily, staring, and demanded what they were trying to cover? Did they have a skin disease?.....she just had no idea what those foreigners were doing with all that cloth all over them maybe neither did they