See What They Never Told You........or Me!

Day of the Zulu..............................Clues and Evidence

On January 22, 1879 -- the legendary "Day of the Zulu," when more than twenty thousand Zulu warriors nearly wiped out the forces of the invading British army -- even the sun was on the side of the Zulu Nation. A partial solar eclipse during the battle obscured the view of the redcoats, making it difficult for them to see the attacking Zulu warriors. But the Zulu triumph on that day was no freak victory: it came about through a combination of superior battle strategy and fierce weapons, aided by potent traditional medicine.

The battle took place in the shadow of a sandstone outcrop called Isandlwana, where the British forces were camped. Isandlwana turned out to be an ideal location for the Zulu to perform their famous "horns of the bull" encircling maneuver. In the technique, developed in the early 1800s by the Zulu king Shaka, one central body of experienced troops makes a frontal attack, while the youngest and fittest warriors simultaneously sneak around the left and right sides of the enemy forces, catching them off-guard and trapping them. Zulu chiefs, stationed on high ground, but out of sight of the enemy, coordinate the attack with hand signals. A key element of the method is to use the topography to conceal troop movements. At Isandlwana, for example, hills and tall grasses provided cover to the advancing warriors. "Isandlwana is the classic example of the technique used to perfection," says Zulu historian Ian Knight. "The British had been told about it, but it is clear that they were not prepared."

Once the Zulu warriors had set upon the British forces, they were able to engage in brutal hand-to-hand combat. A number of seemingly simple yet deadly weapons filled their arsenal. The most devastating was the iklwa, or stabbing spear, which is said to be named for the sound it makes as it is drawn from a body. According to legend, the iklwa was developed by Shaka, who wanted his warriors to engage their enemies at close range, and not simply toss their long spears from a distance, leaving them unarmed. The iklwa had a long, wide flat blade, about 14 to 18 inches long, attached to a staff. The entire spear was three-and-a-half to four feet long, and was thrust into the enemy with an underhanded motion, to maximize the force of the blow.

Warriors also carried an iwisa, or knobkerrie -- a stick with a round knob at the end, about four inches or so in diameter, all intricately carved from a single piece of wood. Zulu craftsmen used the hardest possible woods for the weapon. The best was iron wood, a dark, almost black, heavy wood, which produced an elegant, vicious weapon. "If you can dissociate what they were used for, they are quite interesting and attractive artifacts," says Knight. Like the stabbing spear, the iwisa was a close-quarter weapon. "You'd sort of try and knock the other guy's brains out with it," Knight says. "There was nothing very sophisticated about it."

Zulu warriors also wielded shields, which they used both to protect themselves and as an offensive weapon. They were trained to hook the shield behind their enemy's shield, and push it out of the way, which exposed the foe's body to attack. In addition, some warriors still carried long throwing spears; others had European firearms, like old flintlock muskets, "but they weren't very skilled in using them, and had to use poor powder and homemade bullets," Knight says. Chiefs often carried axes with triangular-shaped blades, "although these were more of a symbol of status," Knight adds.

Of course, the Zulu might never have vanquished the British at Isandlwana without the help of traditional Zulu medicines. Some scholars have suggested that Zulu pharmacopoeia provided more of a psychological boost than any real physiological effect. But recent scientific studies show that the medicines contained some very potent drugs. For example, warriors were given a cannabis (marijuana)-based snuff to take during battle. Analysis of the snuff has revealed that it contained extremely high levels of THC, a powerful hallucinogen, and yet no detectable levels of the chemicals that cause the sedative effects of marijuana.

Also in the Zulu war medicine chest: the bulb of a flower in the Amaryllis family, called Boophane disticha, or the Bushman Poison Bulb. Studies have shown that the bulb -- which was also used by southern Africans to help mummify bodies -- contains buphanidrine, an alkaloid, like codeine and morphine (although it is not related to them) with hallucinogenic and pain-killing properties. According to botanist Ben-Erik van Wyk of Rand Afrikaans University in Johannesburg, South Africa, the dosage of buphanidrine necessary to reduce pain is very close to the toxic dose, "but in a very experienced traditional healer's hands it should be safe. They usually assess the strength of a bulb by testing it on themselves."

In addition, warriors sometimes ingested a hallucinogenic mushroom containing a toxin called muscimol. The chemical, present in fly agaric -- a mushroom that can attract and kill flies -- is said to induce a state of expanded perception in those who ingest it. Warriors who consumed those mushrooms, researchers speculate, might have been utterly without fear, believing themselves impervious to British bullets.

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Comment by Edie Antoinette on February 22, 2009 at 12:32pm
Speaking of THC (Tetra-Hydro-Cannibanol), which is the principle alkaloid substance in marijuana---

Back in another life of mine when I was into flower power (early 70's), me and my ex would snort these little granuals that was 'supposed' to be THC. We were so stupid. Someone exposed the substance as horse tranquilizer....!!!! Lawd help us!!!!! I cannot believe how crazy we were. We started out as dorks and then experimented like fools...for instance, somebody told us we could get high by baking banana peels and then rolling them up in Tops...Can you see us sitting there smoking baked banana peels??

the 'high' was strictly in our imagination! Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!
Comment by Ronn Nichols on February 22, 2009 at 12:17pm
Thanks My Brother..........Isn't it fascinating to see al they things "THEY" tried to hide??
Comment by Saint on February 22, 2009 at 11:53am
Great post...I hope they continue...interesting about the mushrooms..but than all armies find some way to control the troops.. Fascinating. Peace, Saint
Comment by Edie Antoinette on February 22, 2009 at 9:34am
Awesome...I wondered what the real Shaka looked like. I have watched Shaka Zulu about 50x's and could recite the whole movie. They did a wonderful job with that. He cracked me up calling the Brits the Swallows. My favorite part is when Shaka and his mother enter the village to take his rightful throne. Whoa!!! I just wish I could change the ending.

Another favorite part is when Shaka's punk father first sees Dnandi, Shaka's mother...and he does his little courting dance over the waterfall...I have re-wound that part many times. He dogged them out..smh..but then that's Hollywood. He probably didn't really do that in real life.
Comment by Ronn Nichols on February 22, 2009 at 9:16am
Yes they were awesome..................and here is the MAN himself! You guys are so COOL! I know I say that a lot , but DAMNIT its TRUE....and I Love you

Comment by Edie Antoinette on February 22, 2009 at 8:56am
I was thinking about Shaka Zulu..I have the whole like 10 hour set...Henry Cele was something ELSE!!!!
Comment by Shelley "SoleMann" King on February 22, 2009 at 1:20am
This blog is right on point...I enjoyed reading this and learning a little about The Zulu Nation...I remember years ago, i watched a movie called Shaka Zulu
Comment by KnightD12 on February 22, 2009 at 12:50am
I have always been proud on my Zulu brothers. Now I am even more so.
Comment by Ronn Nichols on February 21, 2009 at 11:52am
Thank You Darlin'..................MUAH!
Comment by Edie Antoinette on February 21, 2009 at 11:46am
Oh my goodness! This is AWESOME!!!! The top pic took my breath away!!!!!

*clap clap clap* Excellent posting my dear!!!!! You are an asset to this site!!!!

Introspection

Entr'acte

  1. play Norman Brown — Night Drive
  2. play Norman Brown — Feeling
  3. play Norman Brown — Still
  4. play Miles Davis — miles 1
  5. play miles 2
  6. play miles 3
  7. play miles 4
  8. play miles 5
  9. play Marvin Gaye — I Met A Little Girl
  10. play Santana — 01 Singing Winds, Crying Beasts
  11. play Santana — 02 Black Magic Woman-Gypsy Queen
  12. play Mongo — 02. Afro Blue



The history of the Butlers/Raw Soul is dense, but for all of us music nerds, that's normal. It is not totally clear what year the Butlers actually formed but they released their first single in 1963 on Liberty Records. That single was "She Tried To Kiss Me" and another single followed on Guyden entitled "Lovable Girl." After the Guyden single the Butlers took a break not recording another record until the single "Laugh, Laugh, Laugh" was released on the Phila label in 1966. The group also backed Charles Earland and Jean Wells on one Phila single ("I Know She Loves Me"). 


As you might be noticing, the Butlers were doing a fair amount of recording but not achieving much success. The group's recordings sold regionally but never had the promotion to make an impact on the national scene. After the single with Phila, the Butlers moved to the Fairmount label (part of the Cameo-Parkway family) and released a handful of singles, some being reissued singles of the past. The Butlers were with Fairmount for 1966-67 and then moved to Sassy Records. Sassy released the group's greatest single (in my opinion) "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" b/w "If That's What You Wanted." A copy of that 45 sold for just under $500 last summer on eBay. Even though that isn't that much in the world of record collecting--it's still a hefty sum. The Butlers released another single on Sassy ("She's Gone" b/w "Love Is Good") that appears to be even 
harder to come by then the "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" single.

 

The true history become a bit blurred here as the AMG biography states that the Butlers last record was released on C.R.S. in 1974 (". However, between 1971 and that single, Frankie Beverly formed a group called Raw Soul and released a number of singles. Some of the songs recorded by Beverly during this period are "While I'm Alone," "Open Up Your Heart," (both on the Gregor label) and "Color Blind." "Color Blind" was released by the Eldorado label and rerecorded by Maze. Beverly's big break came when Marvin Gaye asked Raw Soul to back him on a tour. Gaye helped Beverly/Raw Soul get a contract at Capitol. Beverly decided to take the group in a different direction, a name change occurred, and Maze was created. 

The above isn't the most complete history of Beverly but hopefully someone will know a way to get in touch with the man or his management because a comprehensive pre-Maze history needs to be done on Frankie Beverly (his real name is Howard, by the way). Below you'll find every Frankie Beverly (pre-Maze) song available to me right now ("Color Blind" will be up soon). 

If you have a song that is not included below, shoot it over to funkinsoulman (at) yahoo.com and it will go up in the next Frankie Beverly post (later this week--highlighting Maze). Also, if you have any more information please share your knowledge. The Butlers material has been comp-ed sporadically (usually imports) but the entire Maze catalog has been reissued and is available. 

Enjoy.  "She Kissed Me" (Fairmount, 1966 or 1967) 
 
 "I Want To Feel I'm Wanted" (not sure which label or year) "Laugh, Laugh, Laugh" (Phila, 1966) "Because Of My Heart" (Fairmount, 1966 or 1967)
   
 "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" (Sassy, 1967)
   
 "If That's What You Wanted" (Sassy, 1967)
 



Frankie Beverly is one of those cats that has lasting power. He started in the music business doing a tour with doo wop group the Silhouettes and then formed his own group called the Blenders. The Blenders never recorded a single, Beverly wouldn't appear on wax until forming the Butlers a few years later. Along with Beverly, the Butlers included Jack "Sonny" Nicholson, Joe Collins, John Fitch, and Talmadge Conway.

Beverly would later enjoy great success fronting Maze and Conway would become a
well-known penning Double Exposure's
"Ten Percent" and the Intruders' "Memories Are Here To Stay." 
 While Maze is a phenomenal group, Beverly's work before that group will always stand out as his best (imo).

The Butlers produced tunes that most Northern Soul fans would kill for and Raw Soul gave the funksters something to pursue. If, by chance, you know of a way to get in touch with Frankie Beverly or his management, please drop me an e-mail. It would be absolutely great to do an interview with him about his pre-Maze work. He's still playing out, most recently doing a New Year's Eve show in Atlanta.
:: Funkinsoulman ::

Power...Through Simplicity ♪♫♪

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