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Zulu & Cleft Stick

Zulu & Cleft Stick


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Zulu & Cleft Stick

A Zulu courier running, carrying a message in a cleft stick

Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries

Media ID 4308941

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10028772

1879 Cleft Courier Message Postal Running Stick Zulu


EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph captures the moment of determination and focus on the face of a Zulu courier as he runs with unwavering speed, carrying a precious message within the hollowed-out cleft of a stick. Dated back to 1879, this image offers a glimpse into the rich history of communication methods used by the Zulu people during a time of significant upheaval. The Zulu Empire, located in present-day South Africa, was a powerful and complex society known for its advanced military tactics and sophisticated social structures. In the absence of a formal postal system, the Zulu people relied on a network of skilled runners, known as "amagqasho," to deliver messages and information across vast distances. These couriers, like the one depicted in the photograph, would carry messages wrapped in animal skins or hidden within the hollowed-out clefts of sticks, using their exceptional running abilities to outmaneuver potential threats and ensure the safe delivery of their messages. The year 1879 marked a pivotal moment in Zulu history, as the British Empire, led by Lord Chelmsford, invaded the Zulu Kingdom in an attempt to expand its territorial holdings. This photograph likely documents the intense and chaotic period of conflict, with the courier's urgent run representing the vital role these messengers played in maintaining the communication lines between the various Zulu leaders and their forces. This photograph not only showcases the remarkable physical endurance and dedication of the Zulu courier but also highlights the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Zulu people in developing effective communication methods during a time of war and change.

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