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Warrior types guide - African

Creating 'realistic' weapons and armor for a realistic setting is tricky in and of its own, but doing so for a fictional setting can pose its own challenges along the way, especially if you want to stick to at least some form of realism.

In this guide I'll go over steps you may want to follow or take into account when creating a fictional set of armor or an awesome new type of weapon. Of course this is merely a guide with guidelines, anything goes when it comes to fiction. But some things are generally received better by readers than others and this is what I'll try to help you with.

Name:
Ashanti

Active around:
- 1701-1957 (Is now Ghana)

Strength and special features:
- Led by Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa
- Incredible bravery
- Fought guns and artillery with bows and spears

The Ashanti weren't particularly special as far as warriors go, but they were a brave and proud people who, at one point, controlled large parts of what is now Ghana and Ivory Coast. They initially fought with spears and bows, like most of Africa at the time, but they were one of the earlier adopters of firearms. This adoption came too late for many however, as the Anglo-Ashanti wars claimed many lives when the British Empire annexed the Ashanti territories and several wars rose as a result. The Ashanti could initially only fight back with bows and spears while the British had guns and artillery. Nevertheless the Ashanti fought on and did well, in large thanks to Yaa Asantewaa who called upon the pride and bravery of her people. In the end the British were victorious, but only after having to increase their number of troops and at the cost of a great number of casualties on both sides.

Name:
Dahomey Amazons (also known as Mino and Ahosi)

Lived from:
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Strength and special features:
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Name:
Ancient Egyptians

Lived from:
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Strength and special features:
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Name:
Israeli Defense Force

Lived from:
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Strength and special features:
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Name:
HeHe

Lived from:
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Strength and special features:
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Name:
Kushite

Lived from:
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Strength and special features:
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Name:
Maasai

Lived from:
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Strength and special features:
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Name:
Mandinka

Lived from:
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Strength and special features:
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Name:
Nandi

Lived from:
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Strength and special features:
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Name:
Ngoni

Lived from:
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Strength and special features:
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Name:
Ruga-Ruga

Lived from:
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Strength and special features:
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Name:
Somali Pirates

Lived from:
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Strength and special features:
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Name:
Turkana

Lived from:
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Strength and special features:
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Name:
Zande warrior

Active around:
- 18th & 19th century, still an ethnic group today

Strength and special features:
- Psychological warfare
- Known as 'Azande', which means 'the people who possess much land' and as 'Niam-Niam', which means 'great eaters'
- Deadly Iron Age weaponry

The Zande warriors were brutal fighters who wielded their signature kube shields, which are large, slightly oval shields (see picture), a Makraka (curved, scythe-like blade) and often a Makrigga, which is a barbed spear.
Poison tipped arrows aren't uncommon either, but perhaps their most effective tactic was their habit of sharpening their teeth to appear more menacing and as if they were cannibals, hence their nickname 'Niam-Niam'.
Unlike some other African tribes the Zande were strongly against the slave trade and were known for disrupting any slave trade efforts made by others. The Zande were never conquered by European colonists, which says a lot about a tribe of warriors using Iron Age weaponry against the guns and artillery that was often available to colonists at the time.

Name:
Zulu

Active around:
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Strength and special features:
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