Zulu Chief’s iNhlendla (Veneration / Ceremonial Staff)

Description

This amazing bident is something most avid collectors or museums have not seen or even heard about! It is an  extremely rare veneration staff / scepter that was originally acquired in South Africa. The wire-work is typically Shona origin commonly seen on most prestige Zulu weaponry.

BLADE WORK & WIRE WORK
Woven copper wire as seen on Shona and Zulu prestige weaponry. Blades resemble Shona Prestige Scepters in our collection. Blades shaped to resemble the swallow tail with barbed fish hook shank secured by intricately woven copper wire to the haft. The scepter’s haft is embellished with more woven copper wire in the middle and at the bottom. Finally, the haft ends with a curved bulbous head like a knobkerrie.

WOOD
Bottom end is similar to a knobkerrie.

ORIGINAL USE
Ceremonial use by Tribal Spiritual Leaders often elected as Traditional Chief’s throughout south east Africa among Shona / Ndebele / Tsonga / Venda / Zulu Tribes.
These Tribal Chief’s made important decisions for communities and nations just like powerful Greek oracles from Athens in ancient Greece.

REF

Makgoba, Thabo. “Coronation Sermon by Archbishop Thabo Makgoba for the New Zulu King.” Anglican Ink © 2023, 29 Oct. 2022, anglican.ink/2022/10/29/coronation-sermon-by-archbishop-thabo-makgoba-for-the-new-zulu-king/.