Why Zulu Shields are much more than just a shield

An overview of the shields used by Zulu Warriors
More War Movie Content: / johnnyjohnsonesq
Request a review: [e-mail]
Moves Featured:
Untamed 1955
Zulu 1964
Zulu Dawn 1979
Shaka Zulu 1986

[@dkajj]

My dad was gifted a shield for feeding a tribe while traveling with a group of missionaries. After he died, I found out that my aunt threw it away, but I was able to retrieve it from the dumpster unharmed before the garbage men came. Thank God for inside sources😉.

[@kuratr]

Wow what a great story! Nice save on the shield. That is a piece of history and a family heirloom now.

[@dkajj]

@kuratr thank you. I am very proud of what he had accomplished during his short life. To find out that my aunt, his sister, threw it in the dumpster nearly gave me a heart attack! Thankfully I didn't trust her very much.... a young boy from the tribe also made a model of the truck my dad drove using only metal coat hangers, and I swear I couldn't do better if given 20 years to try. He met some amazing people!

[@ThatGuy-bh9qh]

Your aunt sounds like a piece of work

[@estro8817]

@@dkajj Did she not know the importance/story behind the shield?

[@hijodeputa5450]

how can someone be that stupid

[@pyrrhusofepirus8491]

Ah Shaka Zulu, such an excellent series, great characters, great set and costume design, and that’s not mentioning an excellent casting choice for Shaka Zulu, probably one of the best casting choices I’ve ever seen. He’s tall, he’s powerful, strong and intimidating, but also cunning and intelligent.

[@lutho7693]

As a South African, who grew up with this classic, I agree.

[@johnwalsh7578]

He scared...the shit out of me....yes great casting..

[@nicocola284]

But he never fought the british ?

[@martinaubut9208]

A great actor.

[@draphotube4315]

Would later become a psychopath killing all mothers in his nation. Out of grief of losing his own. He would destroy the entire regions ability to hold out against future invasions by the depopulation of the area.

[@Frenchylikeshikes]

The traditional dances are just insane.

[@MrDDiRusso]

In the movie ZULU DAWN, there is a scene where the British quarter master is requiring all the men to line up during the battle to be issue ammunition. In the movie, this delayed the soldiers from getting their ammo and allowed the Zulus to overrun the British position. In reality, the British forgot to pack crow bars which meant that they could not easily open their ammo crates. They tried using bayonets as pry bars but that didn't work well. It was this delay in breaking into the reserve ammo that contributed to the British defeat.

[@brittakriep2938]

l am german, and Brittas boyfriend. According to a german arms magazine, have forgotten if it was Visier or Deutsches Waffenjournal, the opening of ammo boxes, the lacking of stability of the copperfoil made cartridges and a third thing, had been a non real ly to hide incompetence of british Commander at Ishandlwana and underestimating the african ememies, don' t know english word for ,Leichtsinn'. See Custer at Little Big Horn.

[@brittakriep2938]

Forgotten: After Zulu war, which was won after next battle by a better prepared british force, the design of Marini- Henry rifles was a bit changed. The handling lever was enlarged and checkered, the brass part of ammunition was made in a way, we germans call ,gezogen" and at the ammoboxes a kind of door was, which cut the tin foil, the cartridges had been wrapped, and a soldier could grab cartridges with his Hand.

[@toi_techno]

It's a shame the Zulu's don't have access to guns and drive every European colonist off the continent of Africa. It would've saved a lot genocidal horror. It's still not too late though, as Zimbabwe have demonstrated.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Myth. In fact each soldier had a tool kit for his Martini Henry rifle which could open them. So could a rifle butt, or a tent mallet. The British infant companies didn't run out of ammo on the firing line. They were receiving fresh ammunition. They kept up a firing withdrawal back to camp. They only ran out of ammo when the Zulus were in the camp and separated them from their ammo supply wagons etc. The only troops who ran out of ammo on the firing line were Durnfords men, because Durnford didn't make preparations as to where his own ammo supply would be located in the camp. He rode off attacking Zulus before it arrived and failed to organise his supply lifeline.

[@badfoody]

WTF

[@Demolitiondude]

Zulu is a great film. Even the inaccurate parts are still authentic.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Easily in my top 5 war movies and probably nothing that will ever be tried again by a production company too.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Men of Harlech....nice part of Wales....

[@All_Hail_Chael]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq I always thought a remake in the style of 300 would be hilarious AND awesome. I like to imagine a de-aged Micheal Caine going on a 10+ kill rampage like Leonidas.

[@user-mk5vj5bf3j]

@@All_Hail_Chael no fuck that

[@kadekitchin7356]

@@All_Hail_Chael That would be funny as fuck

[@spamviking]

2 films that were a weekend staple with my dad and his dad, Zulu and Battle of Britain. My grandad especially had a fascination with indigenous warriors and had books on Zulus, Maori and Native American people.

[@albertgrant1017]

As an Anthropology Major who later became an international lawyer i am glad to hear this. Understanding a foreign culture is important.

[@seansaul5260]

The fact you showed Clips of "Shaka Zulu" got me screaming like a fan girl! Its such an underrated series and barely know outside South Africa. Its the Game of Thrones of the 80's.

[@oddballsok]

I am waiting for a hollywood DIVERSE cast: white actors playing a couple of zulus..and a few token chinese actors here and there as well.

[@seansaul5260]

@@oddballsokhaha I get your feelings my man. I find it funny how they just shoe horn peoples into historical settings instead of making new Films/Series set in the less represented ethnic groups which would provide more employment. Hollywoods mindset is "The rest of the worlds history is boring, lets just put them in European/western settings instead of exploring there cultures".

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Must see that one...thanks, Sean...

[@seansaul5260]

@@eamonnclabby7067 Glad to hear dude 👍

[@ichbineinberliner1776]

It is known in germany, I saw it in a dubbed version, about 35 years ago. Loved it

[@HandyMan657]

And now I know about Zulu shields, I'm going to crush trivia night. Thanks Johnny

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Give 'em hell

[@Deontjie]

Another fact, those shields was not bullet proof. Even though the sangomes blessed them as such.

[@gooraway1]

Love how you stuck in that Monty Python clip had me fooled for a moment. You certainly did your homework on the pronunciation.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

lol I'm glad you appreciate it. I was gonna stuff Monty Python in this video however I could.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq the mincing squaddies, and how to deal with a banana wielding man are up there alongside Hell,s Grannies....almost as scary as the Daleks with Cocky Knee accents...

[@giovannicervantes2053]

Best story I heard about Zulu was the payment to the extras due to apartheid they couldn't get payed so the guys in charge payed in cattle that the extras and characters could sell it for their wages if memory serves me right they made a much higher profit than what they were promised by selling the cattle

[@kosie769]

Yeah that's a load of bollocks don't believe everything you're told, blacks in SA under Apartheid did get paid and handsomely so...If anything it was the only police state EVER to have more immigration to it than flight from it

[@giovannicervantes2053]

@@kosie769 ok

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

I don't recall any laws prohibiting payment to film extras. Maybe the producers had issues with capital controls.

[@Andrewza1]

Yeah there where no real laws against paying people. Aprthied was racist not Slavery. Cattel forms a strong part of Zulu Culture though so I can see Cattel being used.

[@Steven9567]

@@Andrewza1 and yet forcing a people to give up their country they made isn't racist

[@IceAxe1940]

Hopefully in the future you could do a video on the .50 Caliber M2 Browning in the movies, one of most legendary machine guns in use by any military and recently a year or two ago achieved its milestone of being in service for over 100 years.

[@MizantropMan]

It's not a cultural thing, nor is it unique or has any rituals around it, it's just a heavy machinegun. Every modern country has one or more patterns of such a weapon and they are not associated with warrior culture or anything of the sort. Such firearms are just too modern in this world.

[@joefleming3023]

@@MizantropMan A lot of American culture literally revolves around modern war machines and weaponry

[@MizantropMan]

@@joefleming3023 Too early for that. Come back in 500 years, when it is considered a rite of passage to carry an M2 up the mountain on your shoulder at sixteen years of age or something.

[@IceAxe1940]

@@MizantropMan 100 years of service and countless conflicts involving the M2 Browning throughout the last 80 years is alot of history to cover of the .50 cal. If Johnny can cover the M1 Garand, M1918 BAR, M1 Thompson, etc he could definitely cover the M2

[@nhlakaniphombatha5769]

THEN BE DEFEATED WITH YOUR SHIT GUNS AGAIN ...DON'T MAKE YOURSELVES A LAUGHING STOCK AGAIN 😂😁😅

[@AnAfriCanuck]

as a south african, I'm absolutely pumped you made this video! i grew up watching these movies and tv shows

[@toi_techno]

It's a shame the Zulu's don't have access to guns and drive every European colonist off the continent of Africa. It would've saved a lot genocidal horror. It's still not too late though, as Zimbabwe have demonstrated.

[@ajoajoajoaj]

​@@toi_techno So your solution to genocidal horror is ethnic cleansing?

[@bonkybrian5243]

@@toi_techno my guy needs a reality check

[@bonkybrian5243]

@Bananana my guy how you taking about goofy names when your is bananana +also I wasn't replying to Sean

[@Garage-uj7pv]

Another banger Johnny, wasn't aware of the white Zulu shields designating leaders dynamic. Having your own one swept aside and then an assegai thrust into your sternum would not make for a pleasant afternoon I imagine.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Ouch...!!!!....

[@SooSneeky]

The Assegai is the throwing spear, the Iklwa is the short thrusting spear.

[@nobodyspecial4702]

The more white a shield had, the more experienced the warrior. In Zulu society, untried warriors had an all black shield, and as the regiments aged and gained experience in combat, they would have more white added to the shield until you had the oldest and most experienced warrior regiments with all white shields. In addition, only after enough experience in combat would a regiment be permitted to marry, en masse, as was shown in Zulu Dawn at the start of the film, which was the primary motivation for them to almost continually be at war with their neighbors.

[@williamashbless7904]

You make it point to educate your audience in short specific topics that are quite enjoyable to partake. Thank you. I knew virtually nothing about them before your video.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks for the kind feedback William

[@panthercreek60]

Thanks Mr Johnny. This may be my favorite of your many enjoyable offerings.

[@erikreber3695]

This channels content is top notch. I would like to see more videos about ancient weapons like the trebuchet or scorpion etc. Keep up the good work!

[@guyfaux3978]

Leather shields don't stop bullets, which is amply illustrated in the film Zulu, where the natives' banzai charges are continually repulsed.

[@astrotrek3534]

Banzai charge is really not an accurate term at all. And the shields blocked bayonets, which the British had plenty of

[@astrotrek3534]

@@CreativeChaos-iw5rc That will block a bayonet. It's not gonna stop the blade from going through the shield, but it'll stop it from going through the man holding it. You hold the shield a good bit away from your body for that reason. It also traps the blade and allows for a counterattack.

[@kevingluys3063]

I love your videos' ability to be detailed but succinct. It feels like half of historical videos are a young guy saying something with no context whatsoever, or an old guy taking so long that you forget what the subject was by the time he gets to the next detail.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks Kevin I appreciate the encouragement 🙏

[@Ukepa]

fascinating info about the Zulus, especially after learning about Shaka's military innovations

[@rismarck]

Always watched the Zulu music videos with Sabaton but never really knew much about them, excellent video Johnny!

[@thurin84]

zuluy warriors were divided by age cohorts. the shield showed more white the older the bearer was showing who was more experienced. some cows were bed especially for using their hide to make shields.

[@pegjames188]

Years ago doing building work for an old chap he had in his possession a shield and spear that had belonged to a relative who served in Africa during the Zulu conflict , light and manoeuvrable and surprisingly strong is how I remember them.

[@JosephusAurelius]

Racking up quite a large number of views Johnny, your noticeable hard work is paying off. Congrats and god bless

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks man I appreciate that. I've gone full time into this now so hopefully it works out.

[@evansketches]

Very nice. New info I learned today. Thank you

[@evanwalker1939]

Keep up the good content, nice work!

[@siphiwembiyela3886]

My direct ancestor fought in anglo zulu war and Bhambatha rebellion where he was ultimately killed by the government troops and I still have his weapons including his shield spear and knobkiries

[@geordiedog1749]

Nice one JJ. Extremely interesting.

[@ReviveHF]

Imagine Greek Hoplite supported with light skirmishers armed with rifles, this is the closest thing we have.

[@FedorvonBockenheim7597]

What

[@domm138]

1:17 most peaceful day in Glasgow

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Or Birkenhead....

[@sidneysun5217]

really enjoyed this video on non-modern army weapons, please do more!

[@StarsAndSnipes344]

Super cool video! Can’t wait to see the next one!

[@thekhoifish0146]

First, break out the Sabaton lyrics folks

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Kudos to Sabaton ,who have visited several military museums....

[@edspace.]

Interesting video, interesting to learn how the shields and armies worked (and how they were not so dissimilar in purpose even if they used different methods).

[@bigblue6917]

It is some time since I read about the Zulus, 1979 in fact, but I was aware of the shields, their use in battle along side the iklwa, a short thrusting spear, and how they were used to distinguish regiments and ranks. There is some dispute as the what innovations Shaka Zulu, the Zulu king who brought the Zulus to prominence, was responsible for. The Bull Horn formation was his and the use of the iklwa rather then the throwing spear. Throwing spears were used to cause casualties and break up the enemies formations. But the problem was that unless the enemy did the same, which the Zulus did not do, then what you had done was disarm your army. This combination of iklwa and shield has been compared to the standardisation implemented by the reorganised Roman legions under Marius. His biggest contribution was to instil discipline in the Zulu army by being extremely ruthless in punishing his men. Men who hesitated before an attack would be executed after the battle and regiments who hesitated would find their families were killed. He was just as ruthless with the enemy and would often kill off many of them, only taking young boys to be raised as Zulu and you girls to be given to his men as wives. There has been a number of books and documentaries about how the Zulus won at Isandlwana. Something which was discovered some years ago but even now is missed is that in the middle of the battle there was a total eclipse of the sun. The subsequent drop in light levels to that similar to dusk meant that the Zulus could creep up on the British line before attacking with their iklwas.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

I highly recommend the works of Ian Knight and Col Mike Snook especially if you want more up to date reading sources.

[@bigblue6917]

@Coll Maxwell Actually the part about the total eclipse is a more recent discovery and was the main component of a documentary explaining how the Zulus won. But for the eclipse the Zulus would have been defeated as they had before. The eclipse may also explain why the Zulus did not press forward their advantage at Rorke's Drift. If they believed that the eclipse was some form of devine or spiritual intervention they may have been expecting the same again. When it did not happen they may have thought their victory was not to be.

[@bigblue6917]

@@lyndoncmp5751 Thanks Lyndon

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Big Blue You're welcome. By the way way its very interesting how almost nobody at the time even mentioned any eclipse. Not only those who survived the battle but also those watching on such as Hamilton Browne, and those just 10 miles away at Rorkes Drift, so it can't have been very noticeable.

[@mRibbons]

Growing up I loved warriors of many different cultures... the samurai, the Mongols horsemen, Roman legionnaires, English longbowmen, Vikings... but there was one warrior race I was actually scared of. The Zulus.

[@funundercarkids]

Another great video

[@aaronjohn6586]

Thank you for posting about how an indigenous culture used what they had to maximize its battle field capability.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I love doing these videos but my tongue gets twisted up making them.

[@ChaseBlackmoon]

Thank you so much for uploading this video, I am studying native South African peoples right now and was having a hard time pronouncing the names of the different types of Zulu shields, I also didn't know that the Zulu's were only one of the users of this type of shield, so good work!

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks Chase. Glad I could be of help. As a non-African Canadian, I can't say 100% I got all the pronunciations correct but I should be pretty close.

[@ChaseBlackmoon]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq yes, I think you did well, the names are easier to learn for me if I hear someone actually speak them.

[@mwanikimwaniki6801]

@@ChaseBlackmoon His pronunciation is definitely not on point

[@ChaseBlackmoon]

@@mwanikimwaniki6801 well, at least he gets points for trying, and it's probably better than my pronunciation, maybe someday I will meet someone who can pronounce the names correctly, and I still learned some things from this video.

[@giovanniacuto2688]

@@mwanikimwaniki6801 Agreed. 50 years ago prior to working in Swaziland as it then was, a bunch of us did 3 weeks intensive SiSwati in a language lab with a native speaker to check our pronunciation.

[@an3582]

Man I remember loving the Shaka Zulu miniseries!

[@maxlinden7271]

this was a real cool video, thanks dude

[@jz33456]

Every since you did the war hammer video you’ve been incorporating more and more weapons and warfare of different types. Please keep it

[@jayplays9976]

Hey. Been bingeing your channel and I had to comment. I'm African. Not a Zulu though, I'm Shona. And 100% your video lines up with what we are taught. This was a well made video and a brilliant education.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks for that man!

[@trygveblacktiger597]

Interesting video thanks for shareing this info it was enlightning.

[@badfoody]

it's kinda scary how advanced the Zulu organization was. if they caught up with tech they could've been a military power for the 1800s era

[@alegro4046]

Caught up with tech... Lol

[@Aldnon]

@@alegro4046 He wasn't joking, Japan used to be a warrior based society with Shogun at the top, then revolution came and the emperor now at the top (Meiji Restoration) they only need couple decades to complete the modernization. If such modernization happen with Zulu, they would be a regional force that dominate the southern Africa.

[@mwanikimwaniki6801]

@@Aldnon Probably all of Africa

[@Aldnon]

@@mwanikimwaniki6801 That would be impossible. Tribe identity is so strong, Africa will never get unified.

[@mwanikimwaniki6801]

@@Aldnon Who talked about unity?

[@paleoph6168]

Since you mention at 2:40 how the Zulu warriors would run for days, I think the scene at 2:46 would instead be better with the scene that occurs at 47:49 of the movie, in which Ferdinand Schiess asks a soldier how long they march, responding with 15-20 miles, to which he responds that a Zulu warrior can do the same but instead by running. It may not be 100% correct, but it does give a rough idea on how resilient Zulu warriors are.

[@oddballsok]

which tactically means the zulu gets faster at the same destination..and gets to be rested in position before the colonial enemy would show up...but that doesNOT mean the zulu 'army' gets faster in a strategical sense... both get to be at their same destination at the end of teh day at dusk......so the zulu army could NOT appear tens of miles behind the enemy in the same period of days..

[@mikecimerian6913]

The Spartan comparaison is quite apt. Provided with Martini rifles and artillery they would have been unstoppable. Probably the best infantry of this time period.

[@johnbooth3073]

They could travel up to 72 miles in one day if necessary. That’s nearly three marathons ! Lots of running.

[@masonarmand8988]

they would also forage and live off the land, their camps were minimal indeed if they british could've harnessed them the way byzantines harnessed varangians the continent and history would be slightly different.

[@giovanniacuto2688]

@@johnbooth3073 When I worked in Swaziland half a century ago a schoolboy could walk 10 miles to school, have his lessons, may be do some paid work afterwards e.g. as a garden boy and walk 10 miles home.

[@corbynxavier1162]

good pronunciation and great video as always

[@josuesepulveda6850]

Great video!

[@MemekingJag]

In primary school (UK elementary) we got to spend a day making our own Nguni shields (with arts and craft paper rather than cow hide). The shield I made was, even out of paper, surprisingly good at deflecting projectiles (mainly erasers and pencils) It's been said that even though these shields weren't originally meant for musket warfare, a shield that's hide had been hardened enough was capable of deflecting musket balls at far distances. When the enemy infantry might only have two, or three volleys they can fire before the impi charge meets, that's significant protection afforded by something comparatively primitive and simple in design. In the history of global empire and various wars of colonialisation, the Zulu and the Maori are two cultures that amazed me in how effective they fought against their colonial (British) invaders. I enjoy the movie Zulu a lot partly for that reason - neither a celebration of spreading empire to unfamiliar "savages" nor a diatribe against the evils of imperialism, but an example of the fighting spirit, camaraderie, and bravery of both sides, and warriors from all parts of the world, mutual respect between opponents from very different places.

[@jyryk4623]

i didn't realize there were more than 2 zulu films

[@whiteknightcat]

The best known (in the west) are Zulu (1964), Zulu Dawn (1979), and the television miniseries Shaka Zulu.

[@acesilver2227]

dont look like it would stand up to much

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Excellent choice, These hidden gems are Brill....thanks Johnny....E

[@eamonnclabby7067]

PS....so terribly sorry to read about the knife crimes...thoughts and prayers from across the sea..

[@BradBrassman]

A pal of mine who did house clearances got a large brown and white shield, complete with Knobkerrie, large Spear, and the smaller spear which he offered me for £250 and I turned it down, as I was skint at the time. It also had a somewhat faded label on the reverse saying at what battle it had been taken and by whom!

[@mugsnvicki]

I was a table top figure wargamer for years and had an army of Zulus and Brits all hand painted. I don't know if playing or painting was more enjoyable. Certainly did not paint the shields with such accuracy. A great video Johnny!!

[@danbuchman7497]

History is always best when served… with irony! 😂 Love the (Python) Monty ref. One question; any idea of the type of wood used for the handle of the shield?

[@Brslld]

Great Video!

[@Sommenofatobox]

Awesome video!

[@kiwiworld]

That's pretty cool about there shields

[@jager0-035]

The zulus will always be in my top listings of the greatest warriors man kind has given

[@oddballsok]

I am sure having a SURPLUS of men 1000 to 1 did help....

[@natebox4550]

@@oddballsok and I’m sure the guns helped too, what’s your point?

[@samuelduchesne5841]

@@natebox4550 i rather have 1000 men than one gun

[@natebox4550]

@@samuelduchesne5841 or rather 1000 for every one highly trained soldier in a fire arm that shoots quickly. Not one gun

[@Deontjie]

Unfortunately, Shaka Zulu was murdered by his own brother, Dingaan. Just think how many other tribes the Zulus could have annihilated if that did not happen.

[@historywithhilbert146]

Awesome video, incredibly interesting!

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks man! Appreciate you stopping by you have a great channel.

[@mrmacguff1n]

4:06 great job on that pronunciation. Very cool they got his actual descendant to play the role

[@fredlandry6170]

Zulu was a great film and it took care not to portray them as mindless savages.

[@CharChar2121]

That was really cool!

[@erosgritti5171]

Ok, but using a white shield to identify a commander is not genial, it is borderline normal. All peoples had similar things, it's the most basic thing that can come to mind.

[@klxnone1014]

You should do a video comparing and ranking all major nations helmets in WW2.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I know I know...

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq cap badges always fascinating....Mrs C and I still prize our Hospital badges, mine features a wheatsheaf ( reflecting Wirral, s Cheshire links) ...Mrs C,s badge featuring the Liver bird of course for Liverpool...Regiment badges of course reflect origin and much else....

[@klxnone1014]

@Johnny Johnson Sorry for pestering you so much thanks tho also keep up the great vids.

[@natebox4550]

@@klxnone1014 the Germans kinda win that one, due to the fact that their design is pretty much what most western nations use nowadays, but slightly modified, and with Kevlar.

[@ALexpWTFISTHAT]

cue cow mating at 0:35 hahaha

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

LOL my man. I had a bet inside my head how long it would take to get this comment.

[@SabreWolferos]

4:00 never knew they went to those lengths to make it authentic. That’s awesome

[@raffs9934]

There is a hunting brand in New Zealand called Swazi, they have a zulu shield on they’re logo

[@Butter_Warrior99]

Zulus a cool.

[@somethingelse4878]

You were only supposed to blow the bloody shields off Oh wait thats the Italian job, not Zulu

[@robertfogelberg7538]

Such great video thank

[@Chiller01]

Learned a lot on this one of course I was totally ignorant about Zulu shields so kind of a low bar.

[@thrasher50]

Had me an interesting idea for you next video if you're game. There's been loads of different suitcase guns throughout cinema and they were actually used during the Cold War era as spy espionage tools. Just a thought

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Oh hell yes! That's a very fun idea. I'll add it to my list.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq anything by SOE, as mentioned earlier ,the Nancy Wake biopic was a hidden gem

[@jacobrigby3172]

I've been told that Zulu shields could resist musket balls, sadly the Martini Henry Rifle is more powerful than any musket

[@rachdarastrix5251]

What about if they took 5 of their shields and glued them together? And also it may have more to do with the fact that Minié balls and bullets pierce better than musket balls.

[@isaiahd5396]

That's a myth wood and animal hide won't stop a bullet not even from a musket

[@jacobrigby3172]

@@isaiahd5396 Like I said, I've been told. I was on the fence on whether it was true or not, that being said, Buff Coats of the English civil war period was resistant to lighter calibre muskets or pistols at range. so I could see a Zulu shield stopping a civilian calibre musket at range, but a larger military grade ball would just go straight through

[@isaiahd5396]

@@jacobrigby3172 At long range its a possibility sure

[@rachdarastrix5251]

@@jacobrigby3172 Buff coat could protect against a 70 caliber flintlock pistol that is pressed up against someone. It didn't even fall out of style because guns got better, but because few men could afford it. You are thinking of a lighter English civil war era cuirass .

[@oscaranderson5719]

been getting into fencing and I gotta say I dig the staff running through the shield a lot more now. not quite sure about HAMA techniques but I’d imagine you could use the staff to parry or displace an opponent’s weapon.

[@views_by_mali]

This was so informative and well done👏🏾. As a South African I'm truly impressed and thankful for this. Also I didn't know there were movies in the 60s and 70s about Zulus. Thanks😄.

[@ants8678]

It would be great if ya did a video on the Sherman firefly its 1 of my favorite m4 sherman variants btw great video!

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I can! Sadly no hollywood footage though but should be enough stock footage out there

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq maybe a nice email to the Imperial war museum...

[@OldMusicFan83]

Zulu is an awesome movie. I watched it with my daughter before she entered the US Army to show her the role of the NCO.

[@samsignorelli]

Colour Sgt,.Bourne could've been no better example.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@samsignorelli And Sgt, Hollis VC on D day ...Sgt Joseph McGahen RIP, East Lancashire regiment ,fought alongside the American paratroopers at Nijmegen,sadly succumbed to his wounds...buried alongside his brother Gerald McGahen ( Mrs C,s da) ,at Ford cemetery Litherland.

[@vinn3327]

So true , and to put terror into the enemy by beating it with the spear thousands of them would have been terrifying.

[@spartagaming3404]

Now I want to make one.

[@shelbyseelbach9568]

So at the end of the day, it's a shield and is used in pretty much the same ways that everybody else that ever carried them used them. Fascinating.

[@arnijulian6241]

Nice one Johnny! Any real Englishmen learnt about Zulu's as a nipper but I'd like a mention genocide of other tribes called then Mfecane that allowed the English to face a much weakened Shaka force of zulus. the Mfecane was a migration period that caused famine across south Africa tribes to retreat from the Zulu. Also look up an (isizenze) an an interesting zulu weapon that originated from the Tsutonga tribe if memory serves though not sure?

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Will try to expand on the Zulu in the future as I had a lot of fun with this video. Genocide was definitely a major issue and I'd hate to think what the region would have looked like with modern weapons at the time of the Zulu. Well besides what we British are responsible for.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq indeed, hard to add or subtract anything...nothing justifies it....however to paraphrase Churchill..let us movie forward together...

[@arnijulian6241]

​@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq (The Mfcane) saw at least 1 million dead but more likely 2million deed of their own complexion. Britain's worse atrocity by direct cause & not market collapse or overseas famines are as follows. Of proven figures shy of 28 thousand Dutch women & children that the shortage occurred from Dutch male rebels destroying rail lines. they thought (Kitchener) would release them or surrender in shortage but no. British command let 28 white women & children die due to supply issues but only 20,000 blacks in various camps so you can't say the where today favourite announced ism. Less of Boers could have died if not for Africans thinking the concentration camps where the usual refuge camps. (The Mau Mau uprising) was the other notable incident that saw roughly 32,000 Kenyans dead but oddly only British side police & soldiers of Kenyan descent died at 3000 roughly. Look away for a bit & the natives started killing each other as perusal? As for the Kenyan camps 1.5 million interned but only 2000 dead roughly. how People dare compare British Empire these days to Nazi Germany that saw over shy of 21million minimum dead to 26million roughly is ridiculous! Let alone Japan with 31million to possibly excess of 50million as Imperial Japan. People die in uprisings John but intentional death camps, not concentration no matter how much they claim is Bonds & leagues apart in atrocity. We the British have little to nothing to be ashamed off!

[@DarkElfDiva]

I think you'd like Extra History's series on the Zulu then. They mention the Mfecane and many other things that led to and resulted from the rise of Shaka Zulu.

[@arnijulian6241]

@@DarkElfDiva Brief in summary but well covered when video length is considered. I Like how they did each part by rulers starting with Shaka in part 1. Nice recommendation Munitia Blastpaw.

[@DanteS-119]

Damn i had no idea but this is an amazing study of culture, definitely will want to check out those movies too

[@Ratt611]

Great vid ! I was really wondering about the cultural significance of the shield.

[@hikermit7317]

hi

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

yo

[@Stoneyfonik]

I thought you would never make a video about these

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Trying to mix things up more and more

[@Kardia_of_Rhodes]

If you're up for a challenge, I'd love to see a video from you about the Carnyx War Horn used by Iron Age Celtic Tribes.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

That would be very cool

[@BedroomBully88]

You can shoot through em with the Martini Henry! Straight up savage yo!

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

OK. Well done. (IIRC ....) Originally, the natives of the area would have battles where they'd all agree to meet some place like a small stream or something. Then individuals would strut about on their side of the stream, trash talking the guys on the other side. After a while - you'd have some braver than average guys who would cross onto the other side - and might clash spears and shields with some one there - and they might hurt each other. It was even possible that someone might get killed. Then - after they'd all gotten tired and wanted to go home to supper - they'd both leave and claim victory. Then ... along comes Shaka ... Now - there's a story - and I have no idea if there's any validity to it - but - there's a story that for a while, Shaka was himself hired as protection by a White Traveling Merchant - who went from village to village buying and selling. Supposedly, this guy told Shaka about how the Romans fought. How they had shield walls, Pilum and short swords for stabbing. The Romans would all attack together, throwing their Pilum at the enemy that would stick in their enemy's shields - to make them unwieldily - then the Zulu closed in as a group and began stabbing with their short swords. Allegedly ... Shaka took this to heart and - because he was in fact a Bad Ass with the respect of the men of the then militarily insignificant Zulu's - he taught them to fight like the Romans. He took some of them and gave them Shields and sticks. For one group, he broke off part of the handle of one of their stick "spears" - to make a short stabbing weapon. The other guys - he left with their throwing stick "spears". Then he had them both line up and throw their "Spears" at each other - but - the guys with the short sticks - he told not to throw them. After both sides had thrown their "Spears" - the guys with the short sticks still had them - but the guys who had thrown all their sticks - had nothing but their shields. He then told the guys with the short sticks - to go beat the crap out of the other guys with them - which they did. Lesson learned by all involved. The Assagai was their throwing Spear - and the Iklwa was their short stabbing weapon - with longer, wider blade. Next time the Zulu's had a fight with someone - they all showed up at the stream and the guys on the other side began doing what was normal for these battles, waving their weapons about, jumping up and down proclaiming what Bad Asses they were and trash talking the Zulu's. At Shaka's command - the Zulu's all charged together across the stream, in formation, threw their Assagai, then closed with the other guys with their Ikwa's - and killed them all. What was left of the other group - became incorporated into the Zulu's. The Zulu's kept this up - and eventually - under Shaka - had incorporated a large number of other groups who had come to refer to themselves as Zulu's as well. The other thing about this - was that the natives lived in these stick huts that were shaped a lot like Eskimo Igloos, round, with a short entrance you had to get down on your hands and knees to crawl in and out of. What came to be done ... was they would attack another group (it wasn't just the Zulus who took to doing this) set fire to their huts - and then they'd gather around the exit to stab the guys trying to crawl out on their hands and knees. A group attacked this way - would be devastated - and the survivors would flee, the winning group taking the land and cattle of the losers. But ... these Losers - having nothing - would go to another village - and attack IT the way they had been attacked - and drive off the survivors. This became a chain linked phenomena - where these attacks spread outward - devastated most of the Natives in a large geographical area - and largely depopulated it. Much of the food generating capacity of the area was destroyed in this process too. There was one group - led by a female - of desperate survivors of other attacks that went around destroying other groups - and eating the bodies of the ones they killed. When the Boers began their Great Trek - to get away from the British - they moved through a large area populated mainly by skeletons. The Zulus were the trigger for all that - but just the trigger. They took the land they wanted and incorporated the people they wanted to into the Zulus but didn't go around depopulating vast areas - it was the domino effect of all these groups being displaced in turn by those who had been displaced themselves. The thing I don''t know about this - is just how much the Zulu's fought in Shield Walls. They certainly did fight in Impies (which were Regiments formed of boys who all came of age during a certain period) but I don't know just how far they followed the Roman Practice of fighting in ranks with Shields out in a wall in front of them, stabbing around the Shields with their Iklwa's as they maintained their formations. I just don't know to what degree they did that - if at all. Of course the Hollywood Movies are no help there - as they have the Romans all charging in together in a mob. The best movie about that - is the beginning of Gladiator - but - after a while - it all degenerates into this mob of guys hacking and slashing at each other - which I assume the directors think is more exciting. The very beginning of the HBO series Rome - also has a depiction of the Romans fighting as a formation. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGiwip-Ir7GkepI .

[@Xingmey]

nothing the zulus did was of any worth. not even their shields. it was just a giant target for target practice at best.

[@rulerofkripsy9143]

Of course an weeb loser thinks this your whole life is a useless

[@justinpopelka1148]

Concise. Nice

[@mr.racoon3003]

I love ur content, Will you do some Rolling block rifle in movie?

[@jackspringheel9963]

Fun fact: UK riot police training in the 1980's included Zulu-inspired "bang on the shields to intimidate the opposition" but it was deemed too confrontational and so was officially discouraged. Very effective though.

[@julesbenedictcatalan4904]

Zulus attack fight back to back

[@niklaspelaa3780]

Show them no mercy and fire at will

[@THECHEESELORD69]

And then the Dutch have to ruin everything.

[@dariusgreysun]

Hint: It WAS just a shield...

[@bobmetcalfe9640]

AFAIK, Zulus often approached with the shields edge on, and then turned them front on - which made them look more numerous and was therefore intimidating.

[@husbandsonfollowerleader9133]

How did they hold up against bullets?

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Not good.

[@rvostudio390]

Not Good

[@VikingTeddy]

They didn't.

[@husbandsonfollowerleader9133]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq I know, I'm just being a prick

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I know. I'm a prick too so I appreciate it.

[@StratfordWingRider]

Great video as always! You should look into the Maori weapons of NZ (my home) very interesting if you like native warfare and some interesting history.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Absolutely. Love Maori culture. 👍

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq always enjoy a Haka....

[@thereservationatdorsia2618]

interesting to see an entire culture revolving around a specific object, makes them look like a videogame race that's very good at doing just one specific thing, very rad

[@zali13]

Superb!

[@_Warcrimes_]

might I just say spot on on the dot every thing you said is correct I'm a white South African and I can say that even the names are correct you my friend deserve a medal for this, no one who I've seen on youtube has pronounced them correctly.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thank you very kindly for that. It's not always easy and I rarely get all my pronunciations right so I am happy to hear that :)

[@cowmaster9180]

white south african with the name war crimes... pretty self aware arent we?