Shona bow and arrows

Anonymous

Southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Zambia and south of Mozambique)

 20th century

Engraved wood, hammered steel arrowhead, rope

Gift of Museum’s Friend Association, 2013

Inv. 2013.10.1-3

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The straight bow of this ensemble is a short bow carved in wood. The arrows are without feathering and the notches are very visible. They have hammered steel heads. On several well-defined areas, the bow and arrows are finely engraved with geometric motifs on a black background. The latters were made with a metallic rod, most certainly a nail.

Although the size and the shape of the bow and arrows are relatively classic and well spread, their décor, on the other hand, makes the ensemble quite singular and helps identify its provenance.

The Shona

Under the name Shona or Mashona are regrouped several populations from Southern Africa, living for the most part in Zimbabwe among which are the Karanga, the Kalanga, the Zezuru, the Manyika, the Ndau, the Korekore, the Tonga and the Roswi. They speak Shona, a Bantu language. Today, they represent more than 80% of Zimbabwe’s population, that is to say 9 million people. The Shona introduced the first stone constructions in the country.

As early as the 11th century, they raised a gigantic construction, dzimba-dza-mabwe which means “big houses of stone”, listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO since 1986. The monument gave its name to Zimbabwe. It is the culmination of the Shona civilization, known for its industrial activity specialized in mining products: iron, gold, copper and tin among other things. Nowadays, the Shona have turned more towards agriculture and farming while producing pottery and wickerwork.