Zulu Shield Center Shaft - Mgobo Club

Zulu Shield Center Shaft - Club
$35-00

Zulu Handcrafted Shield Center Shaft - Mgobo Club

Height: 1- 1.5 m (40"- 60")

The Zulu shield which has become an internationally recognized African battle weapon and is made up of 4 main parts. The main hide that is used for the protection of the attacker, the two clubs which are the spear and ball club, known by the Zulu tribesmen as the Assegai and Knob-Kerrie, and then the center shafts known as the Mgobo.

Together this makes up the entire Zulu shield that the Zulu tribesmen would use to go to war. The center shaft, which can be seen in the picture in the left, is a tough center shaft or stick that slides down the back and center of the Zulu shield. This Mgobo helps the Zulu shied both in strengthening the shield and helping the Zulu shield keep it's form.

The Mgobo has animal fur such as Springbuck, Kudu or any other African fur hide wrapped around the top end that would stick up above the Zulu shield. The different furs used on the stick would indicate the status of the Zulu tribesman using the shield. A leopard skin Mgobo would indicate that the shield owner was the Chief King.

Today many Zulu and African collectors display this Zulu shield center shaft with other Zulu or African displays. The Mgobo ranges in size form 1 m to 1.5 m tall.

Because of the nature of the Mgobo Zulu shield and that it has been handcrafted each Mgobo Zulu center shaft will be similar but not identical.