assegai
Illustration — An askari guard at an Allied air training school at AFB Waterkloof, Pretoria, South Africa, January 1943 An assegai or assagai is a polearm used for throwing, usually a light spear or javelin made up of a wooden handle with an iron tip.
assegai
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Illustration — An askari guard at an Allied air training school at AFB Waterkloof, Pretoria, South Africa, January 1943 An assegai or assagai is a polearm used for throwing, usually a light spear or javelin made up of a wooden handle with an iron tip.
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wikidata · Q740127 · wikipedia · Assegai
In this article
Area of use
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
Iklwa
• Illustration — Zulu man with the shorter iklwa Dingiswayo, ruler of his Zulu tribe, whose chief lieutenant was Shaka, popularized the use of the shorter stabbing spear with a 610 mm shaft and a larger, broader blade 300 mm long in warfare, which was traditionally used primarily as a hunting spear. This weapon is otherwise known as the iklwa or ixwa, after the sound that was heard as it was withdrawn from the victim's wound. The traditional spear was not abandoned, but was thrown from range at enemy formations before closing in for close quarters battle with the iklwa. This weapon was typically used with one hand while the off-hand held a cowhide shield for protection.
Botany
Botany
It is also the name of a southern African tree (Curtisia dentata) whose wood was suitable for making spears or lances, most notably by the Bantu-speaking people of southern Africa.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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