The Long Shields

 

The Long Shields - so named to touch the history of the people in Northern Matebeleland where the project operates.

An off-shoot of the Zulu nation broke away and moved North to become the Matebele (People of the Long Shields)

A warrior tribe with a very strong cattle culture and were never seen without their cattle-hide shields.

One reference says that a young man on a lion hunt would get the lion to attack him and whilst he lay underneath his shield, protected from the lion, his fellow hunters would rush in and spear it.

 

Today's "Long Shields" are equipped not with spears and shields but GPS and cell phones! They relay information of Lion whereabouts as well as help their community find lost livestock and strengthen bomas.

 

We are trying and testing new ideas to mitigate this conflict including the use of that much maligned "musical" instrument......the mighty Vuvuzela!!

 

Here is an image of a Long Shield as seen by a cattle killing lion!!