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"A Lexicon of Zulu Military Units"
rich


Joined: 01 May 2008
Posts: 897
Location: Long Island NY USA
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Just picked up Keith's book from the RRW museum which is a fine overview of the Zulu naming conventions of their regiments, how their regiments were structured and what they wore. The book goes into detail in describing this. Some regiments and their names:
uDlangezwa-"he who eats without feeling it"
amaPhela-"the cockroaches"
uMotha-a regiment of Shaka formed with invalids and the sick..the name was for them since they were "those who warm themselves by the fire"
and the
uMbonambi- "those who see sorrow"
uDududu-"the sound of rushing foosteps"
iziNyosi-"the honey bees"

Fascinating regimental background and also on Keith's note about how the Zulu have a penchant for great memory since they were trained when they were very young to spot missing cattle. It was said that if they had 500 cattle they would know instantly if any one of them were missing.

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Rich
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Peter Ewart


Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Posts: 1797
Location: Near Canterbury, Kent, England.
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I agree, Rich - a really useful and interesting work, and also ideal for reference purposes.

Peter
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"A Lexicon of Zulu Military Units"
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