Assegai

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the type of spear. For other uses, see Assegai (disambiguation).
AFB Waterkloof, Pretoria
, South Africa, January 1943

An assegai or assagai (originally

pole weapon used for throwing, usually a light spear or javelin made up of a wooden handle
with an iron tip.

Area of use

The use of various types of the assegai was widespread all over Africa and it was the most common weapon used before the introduction of firearms. The Zulu, Xhosa, and other Nguni tribes of South Africa were renowned for their use of the assegai.

Iklwa

Zulu man with the shorter iklwa

close quarters battle with the iklwa. This tactical combination originated during Shaka's military reforms. This weapon was typically used with one hand while the off hand held a cowhide shield
for protection.

Botany

It is also the name of a southern African tree (

Bantu-speaking people
of southern Africa.

See also

References

  1. Houghton Mifflin: 2009. (TheFreeDictionary.com)
  2. ^ "assegai | Definition of assegai in English by Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  3. ^ Zulu 'Iklwa' war spear, therionarms.com
  4. ISBN 9780850452563
    .

External links

  • The dictionary definition of assegai at Wiktionary
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