rorkesdriftvc.com Forum Index


rorkesdriftvc.com
Discussions related to the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879
Reply to topic
Knobkerrie/Iwisa
peterw


Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 865
Location: UK
Reply with quote
I was under the impression that the knobkerrie or iwisa was made up of two pieces - a shaft and a round head. Looking through Christopher Wilkinson-Latham's book "Weapons and Uniforms of the Zulu War", on page 78 there is a picture of an iwisa looking rather like a golf club but appearing to be derived from a single piece of wood.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Peter
View user's profileSend private message
Dawn


Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Posts: 610
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Reply with quote
Having handled one, I can tell you that the knobkerrie is made out of a single piece of wood, and very lethal in the right (or wrong, if you're on the receiving end) hands.
Dawn
View user's profileSend private messageSend e-mailVisit poster's website
Edward Bear


Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 6
Location: Cahors, France
Reply with quote
The two terms are increasingly used as if interchangeable, and are referred to in that way in the 2002 'new' Coat of Arms of the Republic of South Africa. See http://aolsearch.aol.co.uk/web?query=Iwisa&first=111&last=120&ov=1 and also http://www.saembassy.org/coatofarms.htm

Whereas an iWisa/Iwisa is undoubtedly a type of knobkerrie:

KNOBKERRIE (from the Taal or South African Dutch, knop-kirie, derived from Du. knop, a knob or button, and kerrie, a Bushman or Hottentot word for stick), a strong, short stick with a rounded knob or head used by the natives of South Africa in warfare and the chase. It is employed at close quarters, or as a missile, and in time of peace serves as a walking-stick.

Not all 'knobkerries' are made to the fairly wide range of traditional Zulu designs for an Iwisa. An elaborate example is shown at:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/10/sfs/hod_1993.381.6-7.htm

The type routinely carried and bundled together with fighting sticks and the main types of spear would normally have a proportionally longer shaft and possibly a more compact head - the proportions designed to meet the user's needs. If the head is disproportinately heavy and the materials not well enough shaped from the bare would, then it might brake at the neck if a sufficiently sharp blow were struck.
There are also examples made by cutting through the joint of a small tree, the thicker part forming the striking head and the thinner the longer shaft handle.
Zulu chiefs may nowadays also routinely carry a stylised version of the design, usually with a fairly shortened staff, to signify their status as they go about their business.
Peacetime traditional designs have evolved slightly differently to those likely to be used as war weapons. A richer man might also carry one of better materials and construction. Peacetime designs might well be made in two parts, and ingeniously joined.

Edward Bear
View user's profileSend private message
Knobkerrie/Iwisa
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
All times are GMT  
Page 1 of 1  

  
  
 Reply to topic