VINTAGE AUTHENTIC AFRICAN ZULU TRIBE HAND CARVED FIGHTING (SWAGGER) STICK

INTRODUCTION:

I wish I could say that I picked this up on some wild African adventure, but the truth is I picked it up on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood.  The store is called Maxfield’s, and I don’t know what it’s like today, but back in the early 90s it was a treasure trove of jewelry (one of the first to offer Chrome Hearts, one of my favorites), high-end clothing, vintage Hermes jewelry, early Loree Rodkin (stunning) and other luxuries for those with thick wallets.  A couple of cases were dedicated to satanic (not kidding) oddities and the store itself was littered with both new and old.  Two antique bull dog door stops with the paint delicately chipped by the many doors they have propped sat guarding a brand new Chrome Hearts leather and sterling jacket that would stop traffic.  Both were for sale — and surprisingly the price difference was not as much as you would think.  

Anyway, you get the idea.

And there I found my fighting stick (though today, with the sensitivities that have evolved to names and classifications, it is probably better referred to as a “swagger stick.”)  It was in a glass case, its polished dark wood gleaming against an array of heavy silver chains.  “Is that for sale?” I asked, certain that it was just a gorgeous prop to accent the pieces in the case.  “It is sir,” was the response.  And, as all good clerks do, before I could say another word, he smoothly unlocked the case and pulled the stick out, presenting it to me with it lying flat in his hands, palms up.  It was like he was presenting a staff to a king.

I took it, and that was it.  I knew it was mine; the cost be damned.  I carried my kingly staff out of the store like a newly-crowned monarch and, for several months, rarely put it down.  It went to meetings, accompanied me on shopping trips — even sat next to me on a chaise lounge at the beach.  My wife called it my “new exotic friend.”  Indeed.  I had just never seen anything like it.  Suffice it to say that it was, for many years, my prized possession, which is why I have held onto it for so long.  But these days I have my African walking stick — much longer and practical, as it can be used as a cane for support.  So my days with my “new exotic friend” have finally come to an end.

We were told upon purchase (many years ago I had the corresponding paperwork… but somewhere along the way, it decided to hide from me) that it was used by a Zulu tribesman as both a swagger stick and a tool for defense.  Certainly to put off an unwanted attack from a rival tribe, but also as a status symbol, an attention-getter, or a rite of passage gift to an upcoming young tribe member.

In any case, it is now searching for a new owner.  Once brandished by me in meetings that I thought might become contentious (although it was more of a joke than an actual threat — sort of…), it has been largely inactive these past 25 years, perched instead on a wooden bench at the end of my bed.  (It ended up there, I think, because I have always kept something to grab close to my fingertips in the event of some unforeseen nighttime unwanted visitor).

But there it has remained.  Unneeded for battle, unseen by anyone except my wife or me who venture by with disinterest.  So it is time to pass it on to its next possessor.  It is remarkable, you will see.  I have never met someone who had one of these or had seen one, so it is a mighty conversation piece — fun to hold, fun to have — and carrying with it the mysteries of what it saw and did with its previous owner(s).  If only it could tell us.

ABOUT SWAGGER STICKS

African fighting sticks, or “knobkerries” as they are also known, is a wooden club used mainly in Southern and Eastern Africa.  Typically, they have a large knob at one end.  They can be used for throwing at animals instead of spears in hunting, or defending oneself against an enemy.  

Swagger sticks often have cultural significance.  If you are able to carry a swagger stick, you normally have something to swagger about.   Used by chiefs and warriors alike, these ceremonial weapons held spiritual significance, embodying the power and wisdom of their wielders.

The name knobkerrie derives from the word knop in Afrikaans, meaning knob or ball, and the word kirri, which means walking stick.  Hence, a walking stick with a knob!

Among the Zulus, the sticks were not typically used in combat, but more often as ceremonial objects.  Some were even hollowed out and used as snuff containers.  Outside of Africa, the sticks were known by different names with varied significance, depending on the culture.  There are too many to describe here, but if you are interested, there are a fascinating array of the variations of this ancient and colorful tradition.  Swagger sticks are still widely used in many parts, especially in rural areas.  In times of peace they may be used as a simple walking stick or ornamental piece.  They are to this day commonly carried by protesters.

THE STICK ITSELF

This artifact, steeped in history and mystery, is a testament to the ancient art of knobkerrie craftsmanship.  With the passage of time, this piece has journeyed through the annals of history, surviving wars, migrations, and the ravages of time. Its pristine condition belies its age, a testament to the reverence with which it was held by its caretakers throughout the centuries.

Crafted from hard Iron Wood, its surface bears the weathered patina of centuries past, hinting at the stories it holds within its grain. Standing at 26.5 inches in length and 2.5 inches in width, with a weight of 1 pound 2 ounces, it exudes an aura of both elegance and strength.

And, as most hand-made things of the past, it was made to last.  It looks no different than it did in the case at Maxfield’s that day.  Still burnished and shining, it’s wide-eyed stare framed by high cheek bones and a prominent brow still holds its fascination.  The mouth is open and lips almost pursed, as if to say, “Bring it on…whatever it is.”

THE FACE

At first glance, the stick appears as a stout, utilitarian weapon, yet upon closer inspection, its true character emerges. Adorning the mallet end is a face, intricately carved into the wood by skilled hands long since turned to dust. Despite the passage of time, the features of the face remain distinct—the eyes, though slightly asymmetrical, hold an intense gaze; the nose, though angular, retains its regal prominence; the lips, though weathered, seem frozen in a silent proclamation; and the ears, though worn, still echo whispers of the past.

CONCLUSION

As you stand in its presence, you can't help but feel a sense of awe and reverence for this ancient relic—a silent witness to the triumphs and tribulations of generations past, and a tangible link to a world long gone yet still hauntingly present in its enduring beauty.

DIMENSIONS

Length:  26.5 inches (67.3 centimeters)

Width: 2.5 inches (6.3 centimeters)

Weight: 1.2 pounds