Antique Zulu Headrest – 19th century – South Africa

Hard wood. Height: 17,5 centimetres (6.89″). Width: 44,5 centimetres (17.52″). Depth: 5,5 centimetres (2.17″)

The Zulu, or also known as Amazulu, are a Bantu ethnic group of Southern Africa. The Zulu are the largest ethnic group in South Africa with an estimated 10–12 million people living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The Zulu originated from Ngini communities who took part in the Bantu migrations.

The Zulu formed a powerful state in 1818 under the leader Shaka. Shaka, as the Zulu commander of the Mthethwa Empire and successor to Dingiswayo, united what was once a confederation of tribes into an imposing empire under Zulu hegemony. Shaka built a militarised system known as Impi featuring conscription, a standing army, new weaponry, regimentation, and encirclement battle tactics.