Zulu Shields: Culture, Ceremony, and Craftsmanship

Introduction: The Zulu Shield in Southern African Culture

No longer confined to battle situations, Zulu shields are used throughout the culture's ceremonial traditions across Zulu societies in southern Africa. There are approximately 9 million Zulu people, making them the largest ethnic group in the region (Stead, 2017). Although the ritual shields used by Zulu warriors likely trace back centuries, records only date their use as far back as King Shaka Zulu (Stead, 2017). The use of similar ritualistic battle shields is common throughout other African societies, including the Bantu, the Matabele, and the Amangwane (Tylden, 1946). The Zulu shield therefore lends insight into the culture, worldviews, religions, and art forms of various African peoples both before and after colonization.

Materials and the Ritual Origins of Shield Making

Creating, designing, and using Zulu shields is a specialized art form undertaken with ceremonial and usually sacred intent. Originally, shields were used primarily in battle, and their different colors and shapes indicated both the status of the wearer and the nature of the battle situation being faced (Stead, 2017). The materials most predominantly used include cowhide or oxhide. Some records suggest that the ritual killing of the ox or cow was carried out in a way that ensured the skin was taken while the animal was still alive (Tylden, 1946). Although this is an arguably cruel method of extracting the hide, the pain and suffering involved would undoubtedly have been integrated into the ritualistic process of forming a shield inherently designed for battle — a context in which pain, suffering, life, and death were all present.

Crafting the Shield: From Hide to Finished Form

After the ritual killing of the animal, the leather specialist would remove the hide, peg it flat and stretched, and then dry it in the sun for several days ("Zulu Shield," n.d.). Once dried, the shield crafter would bury the hide under a pile of manure for several days to cure the leather ("Zulu Shield," n.d.). After curing, the hide was pounded with stones to even its surface and prepare it for artisan design ("Zulu Shield," n.d.).

The leather was typically shaped into an elongated oval or egg form, cut from the original piece of hide, and then fastened to a central support stick. The size of the shield was prescribed to match the distance from the user's chin to his feet (Tylden, 1946), resulting in a length of approximately five feet. According to Stead (2017), these full-body shields are known as Isihlangu and were the original shapes used by King Shaka Zulu. Leather loops were used to fasten the shield to the central pole, while additional supports were cut and attached to provide stability and reinforce the overall structure. The internal sticks also allowed the user to rest the shield on the ground during battle.

Conclusion

Zulu shields are far more than weapons. From the ritual slaughter of cattle to the careful curing and shaping of hide, from the five distinct shield types to the spiritual herbs and symbolic colorings applied to their surfaces, these objects encode the values, beliefs, and social hierarchies of Zulu society. Zulu shields are symbolic windows into the heart and soul of southern African culture and society.