African figures

[Diablo Jon]

Northstar were selling these Western Sudanese mounted warriors a little while ago as part of their Death in the Dark continent special. I'm still kicking myself I didn't get any, by the time I returned on payday, they weren't for sale anymore 



nice little article from Northstar on western sudan even though its aimed at 19th century colonial gaming I'm not sure much had changed  since the medieval period in that part of the world.

http://nstarmagazine.com/africa_12.htm

[Tim Haslam]

I’ve used Copplestone Sudanese in the past, even for ancient armies.
Er obviously not the ones with rifles!

[traveller]

Northstar were selling these Western Sudanese mounted warriors a little while ago as part of their Death in the Dark continent special. I'm still kicking myself I didn't get any, by the time I returned on payday, they weren't for sale anymore 



nice little article from Northstar on western sudan even though its aimed at 19th century colonial gaming I'm not sure much had changed  since the medieval period in that part of the world.

http://nstarmagazine.com/africa_12.htm

Irregular miniatures also have some western Sudan stuff that looks better than their average sculpting quality:



https://irregularminiatures.co.uk/index.html

[Atheling]

I could have sword that the North Star Armoured Cavalry were from the Casting Room Foundry ranges but cannot find them anywhere? Have a gone (more) nuts? Or just made a schoolboy error 

[Plynkes]

I don't believe so, Atheling. Don't recall Casting Room having anything to do with it. My unreliable memory tells me they were a North Star one-off. North Star Nick would know for sure.


Some lovely pics and figures suggested here, but I haven't seen anything that looks like it came from central Africa, which I think is what the OP was after. I suppose those Knights of the Savannah types could be thought of as such, but they really don't come from what I consider central Africa. Don't have any better ideas, mind.

[Diablo Jon]

I don't believe so, Atheling. Don't recall Casting Room having anything to do with it. My unreliable memory tells me they were a North Star one-off. North Star Nick would know for sure.


Some lovely pics and figures suggested here, but I haven't seen anything that looks like it came from central Africa, which I think is what the OP was after. I suppose those Knights of the Savannah types could be thought of as such, but they really don't come from what I consider central Africa. Don't have any better ideas, mind.

Yeah I think Mark Copplestone sculpted for Northstar as a special  to give away with DitDC.

As far North/central/ south that's always a thorny issue no matter what country/ continent you live on. For example as  a born and bread south coast  lad  I consider anyone north of Winchester to be a northerner 

[Plynkes]

Eeeee, I'll fetch me whippet, then, lad.


Can't remember who sculpted them, but I don't think it was Mark Copplestone. I have a few, and they don't seem like his style.

[Atheling]

Eeeee, I'll fetch me whippet, then, lad.


Can't remember who sculpted them, but I don't think it was Mark Copplestone. I have a few, and they don't seem like his style.

To my eyes they have a Robi Baker look to them 

[Diablo Jon]

To my eyes they have a Robi Baker look to them 

Eeeee, I'll fetch me whippet, then, lad.


Can't remember who sculpted them, but I don't think it was Mark Copplestone. I have a few, and they don't seem like his style.

Apparently ( according to the link below) they were a private commission for Kevin Dallimore doesn't say who the sculptor was.

http://wargameterrain.blogspot.com/2017/02/northstar-miniatures-death-in-dark.html?m=1 

[bigredbat]

Loving the African Knights!  Need some.

[Atheling]

Apparently ( according to the link below) they were a private commission for Kevin Dallimore doesn't say who the sculptor was.

http://wargameterrain.blogspot.com/2017/02/northstar-miniatures-death-in-dark.html?m=1 

I painted a lot of Robi's sculpts for Gripping Beast back in the day and these really have the Robi Baker look, at least to my eyes.

It would be interesting to find out if I'm right 

[Ogrob]

You can certainly do a lot with Perry's Ansar if it's for a fantasy project. With the lack of sources you are never going to be super accurate anyway.

Here's a Frostgrave warband I did earlier with them:

[aircav]

I painted a lot of Robi's sculpts for Gripping Beast back in the day and these really have the Robi Baker look, at least to my eyes.

It would be interesting to find out if I'm right 

The hands don't look big enough for Robi Baker 

[Atheling]

The hands don't look big enough for Robi Baker 

Might be his brother then?

[Pan Marek]

Google this: "horsemen, mali empire, images".  Amazing what comes up.

As far as the West African empires/kingdoms are concerned, they did not rely
on oral tradition.   They used Arabic script, and it was during the Mali Empire
that the great library of Timbuktu (with attendant university) was founded.