CANE

Object/Artifact

St. Joseph Museums

Name/Title

CANE

Entry/Object ID

414/10493

Description

STAFF CARVED/TWISTED VINE

Collection

ETHNOGRAPHIC/AFRICA

Made/Created

Place

Continent

Africa

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Country

Cameroon

Region

West Africa

Continent

Africa

Culture/Tribe

Kamerun

African

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Cane

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Stick, Walking

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Personal Assistive Objects

Nomenclature Class

Personal Gear

Nomenclature Category

Category 03: Personal Objects

Parts

Count

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Research Notes

Research Type

Researcher

Notes

Carved staffs (and/or walking sticks) like this one were particularly prevalent in the Zulu tribe. The Zulu language contains over 75 different terms for sticks, which indicates how important they were in Zulu culture. The society of the Zulu tribe is highly stratified and carved staffs were indicators of the status of an individual. However, regardless of social status, all individuals would carry some sort of stick or staff. Various forms would be used for walking, dancing, hunting, combat, and executions.