Question: Ngoni and Tuta Copplestone Castings

[Dr. Moebius]

Hello,

I am planning to paint a Ngoni army for Death in the dark Continent. I already have Ngoni senior and normal warriors. I also have around 50 Tuta warriors I like to use as well.

Can I mix Ngoni and Tuta in the same army or is this historically not correct? Did have the two fought as allies? 

The list also says that one can choose an unit of Chikunda mercenaries. What did Chikunda look like?Same as Ngoni? Or more Matabele like?

Any help would be great.

Thanks
Alex

[Plynkes]

The "Ngoni senior warriors" sculpts are based on drawings of "Angoni" from Nyasaland that the British encountered. That was the predominant style in that area, much as the Watuta figures represent the typical Tuta warrior. But Chris Peers claims both these styles could be found among all Ngoni of the East African region to varying degrees, and not only that, they spread to plenty of people who weren't Ngoni at all.

So I would be perfectly happy to mix them (and I do), or even use them as Sango, Hehe and any number of others.

[Dr. Moebius]

Thank you very much Plynkes. That helps a lot.

[bazookajoe]

The Chikunda had guns.  Any generic African musketmen would do the job.   They were elephant hunters and honey collectors originally from Angola.  They would probably not have the same type of shields and spears as the Ngoni who were strongly influenced by the Zulu (Ngoni is just a version of Nguni which refers to Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele etc) of South Africa.  I think you can mix all the Copplestone Ngoni figures and call them any of the Ngoni groups.

[Plynkes]

One thing I do know is that the Chikunda practiced facial scarification. So that's something you could add if you are feeling up to it. Otherwise I'd agree with bazookajoe and use tribal musketeers, non-uniformed askari (the "armed porter" sort) and/or Ruga Ruga figures to represent them.

[Dr. Moebius]

Brilliant. Thank you very much gentlemen.