Page 108 - Heritage Streets of KwaMashu 2025

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HERITAGE STREETS OF KWA-MASHU
b) Iwisa – a short stick with a knob at the top is known as the bone crushing knob/club. Iwisa (literally meaning to fell it down), is also known as a knobkierie, is a wooden club used in Southern and Eastern Africa, a strong wooden club topped by a bone crushing knob. It was traditionally used as a weapon by mostly Zulu and Xhosa clans. Iwisa was largely used against the British Army soldiers by the Zulu warriors during the victory of Isandlwana War, 1879. Although less often used than the spear and shield in warfare, iwisa was part of Zulu men everyday dress, carried as a means of self-defence (to be both wielded and thrown) and also as an addition for hunting. The Zulu warriors of the past were known to have carried this handy acquaintance with them for hunting, protection, and fighting. The iwisa club, along with the stabbing iklwa spear, were vital weapons for the Zulu warrior; knowing how to handle and when, required extra practice and strength. Amawisa were also standard equipment for Zulu soldiers and they were produced in a variety of patterns, although an ironwood shaft topped by a steel or brass sphere seems to have been the most popular type.
c) Umshiza – a cudgel, another isiZulu name of “induku” (a well-made wooden stick for fighting or just carrying, mostly by men in Zulu culture). Umshiza stick is carved smooth and used specifically for stick fighting. It is the wooden elongated artifacts with various specific names depending on the size, shape and function. There is an IsiZulu proverb that says, “induku enhle igawulwa ezizweni”, literally translated, “a beautiful stick is cut from country afar.” The proverb is purely used to express and to enrich the language – reference to mean a beautiful wife is usually recruited from afar – this was done to respect neighbourhoods and to create sustainable relations that prevents wars amongst nations and kingdoms. Nowadays it might mean getting unique knowledge from afar places to empower ones community.
d) Ijozi (Jozi Road)
In Zulu tradition, the spear represents defence and authority. Ijozi is a spear of the headman, a protective weapon of the
homestead (“isisekelo sekhaya”), usually a light spear made up of a wooden handle with an iron tip. Orality reflects that “Ijozi” was an important defense spear even against bad natural forces such as fire. It is said when the fire is seen coming and about to engulf the homestead, the headman will take this spear and others to stick it on top of the roofs and the ground at all corners – no fire will enter the homestead, it will calm down allowing people to conquer it. Kusadliwa ngoludala (ukhezo)!
e) Ingidi (Ingidi Road) – ingidi in isiZulu means a key locker – in particular for locking doors, or gates and appear in different sizes. Some suitcases also have izingidi.
f ) Isihlangu (Isihlangu Road)
Isihlangu is a big tall shield, previously the property of the king or abamnumzane (headmen). However, during King Shaka’s time “isihlangu” shield were for the regiments, with each assigned a different “isihlangu” colour. They were constructed of ox hide, which had been pegged out in the sun to dry before being pounded into a hollow shape with a rounded stone. The hide was then cut to size for the shield, a single shield requiring most of an ox hide. With the shield cut to shape, a double row of slits termed amagabelo were then cut down the centre of the shield and fitted with ox-hide thongs to allow it to be secured to a long, stout, removable shaft called a umgobo, to which the handle was also secured. The umgobo projected from both ends of the shield, which was tall enough to allow the warrior to just glance over the top, while the top of the umgobo reached the crown of the owner’s head and was usually decorated with strips of fur wound around it. The Zulu army during Shaka’s reign had an isihlangu shield 5ft high, although later, the army adopted a shorter shield only 36in high, called an umbumbuluzo. Both types were made in the same way. The shield formed part of the Zulu fighting technique, so that when a Zulu warrior faced an enemy he immediately charged the other man, caught the side of his enemy’s shield with the edge of his own shield, wrenching his enemy’s shield aside, and exposing his left side for a thrust from his iklwa (its name derived from the sucking sound that was heard when the weapon was withdrawn from
a victim’s wound). The nature of the wound produced by the massive sharp blade probably meant that few, if any, survived that stroke.
The Zulu spear is usually accompanied by the traditional Zulu knob-kerrie (iwisa) and attached to the Zulu shield during battle. These weapons (African fighting clubs) are the main items used by the Zulu warriors during their vicious battles.
g) Imvubu
The word of “imvubu” derives from the water animal, the hippopotamus, whose thick skin was used to make an “imvubu” whip – a nice and strong whipping object that lasts forever and becomes a serious weapon which is not easy to avoid when one utilizes it to beat someone. Imvubu was usually used for punishment.
h) Ingqindi
“Ingqindi” is a clenched fist – an indication of power, readiness to engage in a fight or used to point as a sign of respect (when pointing at the grave in respect of the “house” of the departed; to point a person respectively, or to “point” at the homestead of the headmen – umnumzane (ukukhomba umuzi wendoda) – during the uku-lobola negotiations – usually with the 4 clinched fingers representing 4 cows to request a new bride/wife.
i) Isizenze
This axe-like weapon with iron joined in the stick was usually used during hunting and wars. The other Zulu name for it is impemba – usually seen carried by the esteemed praise-singer (imbongi/inyosi) of amakhosi like Inyosi Buzetsheni Mdletshe.
Famous activists from Section-L include the first female KZN Premier, Mrs. Nomusa Dube-Ncube, and Mr Mlungisi Ndlela, among others. A lot of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) – the ANC’s liberation army also came from Section-L – which many called “London”.