Tribal Division.
Once the Nguni and Sotho people established themselves in South Africa, they lived in smaller chiefdoms undisturbed under the large Nguni and Sotho law until the early 1800's. The Zulu chiefdom was run by Chief Shaka12. Shaka was a revolutionary ruler who changed the idea of combat by changing the weapons from long throwing spears to short- shafting stabbing spears. An example of a North Nguni shield can be seen below in figure 4 and an example of a North Nguni Ceremonial Spear can be seen on the following page in figure 5.
Figure: 4
North Nguni Shield
Size: 35"L
the Prynnsberg estate
This is a North Nguni Shield There are a few distinct qualities of a North Nguni shield, one is the color of hide that is used white shields were only used by older soldiers, and black was used by the younger soldiers. During the reign of Shaka, shields were white and brown,with the majority being white and portions brown. The size of the shields also differed North Nguni -shields were larger because of the dramatic changes Shaka made in combat19.
Shaka also changed combat by planning strategies and strategically placing barricades. Shaka increased in military power by conquering and overrunning several neighboring chiefdoms. By the 1820's, Chief Shaka. controlled all the Northern Nguni chiefdoms. Most chiefdoms feared Shaka. and the Zulu people because of his brutal army. By these conquerings, Shaka established the Zulu people as a tribe of their own. Shaka annually raided the Southern chiefdoms where they captured cattle and destroyed 12. These raids caused the people to flee and join other tribes in the South Nguni area such as at Mfengu, Xhosa, Thembu, Bomvana, Mpondo, Bhaca and Hlubi tribes2. The Zulu's were the largest and most influential of all the tribes because of their dominance over the other chiefdoms and Shaka's agreements with the white settlers. Other large Nguni tribes are Ndebele and Swazi2. The Sotho divided into several groups, the largest being Lesotho, Tsonga and Venda (a mixture of Sotho and Shona).
The Bushmen, who are nomadic hunters and gatherers, are not separated into a particular area, but are known by cultural differences. In 1652, Europeans started to colonize South Africa'; for many years the British mid Dutch fought for control of the land. In 1852, the British and Dutch finally joined and created the Republic of South Africa. During this time, the Bantu's started being restricted to townships or their homelands. This restriction led to the apartheid system which was instilled for many years. Today, they live in a democratic political system. Although the apartheid system is no longer ruling the Bantu people, they still remain loyal to their tribal divisions set long ago.
Figure: 5
North Nguni
Ceremonial Spear
Size: 28" blade,
Total: 58 112"
Late 19th century
This staff is a Nguni sword bladed ceremonial staff It is an outstanding example of earl 20th, late 19th century workmanship designed for apparent native use, The wood midsection shows considerable patination from handling and the attachment of the blade is o early Tsonga/Nguni type. See other examples by the of same hand in "The Art of a Continent", By Tom Phillips 1995 pg. 224, fig. 342 a,b & c.
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