Somali Command

[Dr. Kevin Moon III esq.]

Hello,

I'm looking at putting together a Somali warband for Chris Peers' Africa rules, but Copplestone don't have a command pack and I would quite like a leader for the force, is there a suitable model lurking in another miniature range that would fit in?

[dadlamassu]

This is probably not much help - one of my Somali commanders is a Foundry (I think) limited Edition figure of a tribesman in a sort of Italian Bersaglieri outfit.

I cannot find a picture of him on the web but someone else might.

[Svennn]

Could you use something from the askari miniatures Italian colonial range? A little later but nice minis
http://www.askari-minis.com/oscommerce/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=82

[aecurtis]

There are a couple of figures in the Foundry Zanzibari Chieftains pack which might be suitable:

http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/DA/4/1b.jpg

There was also a nice spear-holding fellow that's been removed from the most recent version of the pack.  I think I may have spares of him.  (A Somali Leader is supposed to be a Spearman, if on foot).

Alternatively, there are a couple or three figures in the Baluchi Swordsmen packs that look less Baluchi and more Somali, that might also work:

http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/DA/5/1b.jpg

http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/DA/5/3b.jpg

For a Mounted Spearman Leader: well, I suppose there's Foundry's Numidian light cavalry--but the horses won't be a good match.

Just some random thoughts...

Allen

[Plynkes]

While probably entirely inaccurate, here's what the Somalis themselves think their greatest leader looked like:


No, not the chap in "Black Hawk Down": Sayyid Mohammed Abdille Hassan, the so-called "Mad Mullah."

In the absence of any actual proper info (I have a few books on Somaliland, but none show a photo or illustration of the Mullah, or any other leader for that matter), when my Somali project comes off the back burner I'm planning to go down this fanciful equestrian statue route if I need a mounted leader (And why not? Ancients wargamers get their uniform details from dubious statues, columns and wall-carvings, so why not Colonial gamers too?).

My thoughts have been heading towards Perry town. I was thinking maybe one of these fellas with their coloured patches filed off:



Or maybe old Osman himself. I mean, a Beja 'fro ain't all that different to a Somali one, if you squint:



So nothing concrete, but at least something you can 'get on the table.' After all, the Brits called the Mullah's boys "Dervishes" too. And a Dervish is a Dervish, right?

For a leader on foot, Allen has it. Allen's advice is always worth following. Well, in the area of history, gaming and miniatures, anyway. Don't blame me if you get burned on the stock market after listening to him, I can't vouch for that.

[aecurtis]

Irony may be dead elsewhere, but is alive and well here.  Thanks, Plynkes.

Good call on the Perry emirs.  I will have to get another box of them once they're restocked on this side of the pond.

Allen

[Sendak]

Thanks ever so much to all of you!

Those links have inspired me to spend more cash.....

[Gluteus Maximus]

This is a bit late [as usual  ] ,but how about using an "Imam" figure? Well, after all, as Plynkes reminded us, the "Mad Mullah" lead them against the British, so why not have one as a leader of a smaller tribal force?

Several companies produce very good Islamic religious figures, including a dismounted one by Gripping Beast in their "Reconquista" range:



or a nice armed one with a Quran [although you have to buy a pack of four figures]:



The Perrys, of course, do a mounted one with their Mounted Armoured Command set:



If you're not too worried about 100% accuracy, why not use the armoured Emir?

He's one of my favourites and leads my Beja, under the guise of the "Emir Nem"