I guess it's Sudanese
 

I found this club a couple of weeks ago and I'm still figuring out what it is. In my opinion, it comes from the Sudan. My reasons for thinking this, is because of the reptile skin on the handle.
It's quite old in my opinion. The chains are hand made (forged individually, rather then made industrially)? There are six of them, each with a coin at the end.
Nice feature is the spearpoint at the top.
The club itself is made out of one piece of wood.

Could this be some kind of sceptre ? Or is it a weapon ?

Perhaps some forumite could translate the text on the coins ?

Any suggestions on this piece are welcome.

Measurements :

total length : 52 cm
length of the spearpoint : 13,5

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/DSC09328.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/DSC09329.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/DSC09331.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/DSC09332.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/DSC09334.jpg

Looks like croc skin. I would agree with you on it being Sudanese. It has a look similar to the Mahdist stuff brought back to UK all those days ago. By the way thanks for the Tutsi. I will find a use for him. :D :o

another one.., it even has the same date on the coins 1860.

I wonder if this is an Islamized version of this sort of thing, much in the same light as other animists peoples weapons used and converted by the Mahdists.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/INDIA039.jpg

so any ideas what this Mahdist item was used for?

It certainly looks like it could be used as a weapon, especially the one ashoka arts shows. In my opinion it could also be used as a kind of rabble rousing prop, probably imbued with a kind of magic. {IT'S A KIND A MAGIC} :D It can sometimes seem unbelievable that your best chance in life may depend on somebody shaking a stick at you. I am off to do some smudging :D :D :D

Good one Tim!!!
Thank you so much for answering! Much appreciated :)
All the best,
Jim