Sidamo Shield
Item Number SAS1929
$695
The Sidamo are warrior tribe of
some 2,000,000 living in southwest Ethiopia. That warrior ethic
has continued into modern times. In 1935, when Benito Mussolini's
forces invaded Ethiopia, Sidamo warriors were among the 250,000
marshaled by Ethiopian king Haile Sellassie. The Ethiopians fought
heroically, many armed only with traditional tribal weapons. This left them vulnerable the tanks and poison
gas of the Italian dictator.
The genuine
Sidamo battle shield celebrates the fierce independence of the
Sidamo people and the nation of Ethiopia.
The intricate
designs formed into the shield tell the story of it's owner's
bravery in combat - as well as provide rigidity. About 30 inches in
diameter, it is made of extremely tough pachyderm hide - probably
rhinoceros. The process of molding this extremely tough hide into
shape is labor-intensive.