SIGNIFICANCE OF SHIELD

This Zulu Shield was presented to Sr. Gabriel O'Riordan, on the occasion of her retirement from her position as Director of the Adult Education Centre in Durban, South Africa. The Zulus were dressed in their "Sunday Best" at the Farewell Function. As a token of their esteem and appreciation of all Sr. Gabriel had done to give them a sense of their own dignity and who created such a wonderful bond between the white teachers and themselves as well as preparing them for their Examinations, they presented her with a shield of black hide interspersed with white, symbolic of how Blacks and Whites could work together. One of the African teachers explained that the Shield was the highest honour an African could confer on another and was usually presented to a Victorious General after a battle! (It is equal to the British V.C.).

HISTORY OF THE ZULU SHIELD

The full Zulu Shield covers the whole body. In the days of King Shaka, the Zulu fighting force was the greatest and most powerful in the African Continent. This shield is about one-sixth the size of the actual Battle Shield used in conflict. The colouring of this shield is the colour of Shaka's personal bodyguard - the most elite of the Zulu IMPIS or Warriors. A person had to be almost superhuman to make the grade into the Household Guard.

WEAPONS OF THE SHIELD

The weapons behind the shield are the Death Club - Knobkerrie - and Stabbing Spear. When the warriors went into battle they would first use their throwing Spears and then engage in Hand-to-Hand Combat. They would use the short stabbing spear to inflict a fatal stab to the body (very much the same as the Roman Stabbing Sword). Then they would proceed to batter the opponents skull in with the Knobkerrie! In training the Zulus used Sticks and they also used them to settle family disputes. In this connection, they were not meant to kill (unlike the warriors), but just shatter a few bones!

THE ZULUS AS A TRIBE TODAY

The Zulus are now a lovable tribe (when treated with Justice!) and they are famous for their Zulu Dances. In fact, the Zulus told Sr. Gabriel she should have performed a Zulu Dance, when she was presented with this shield! for "She had lit a candle that would not be extinguished. They must fan the flame till it's as big as AFRICA".