Hi Teodor,
Very well made points, and agreed that often cases of trying to trace the developments of various forms can be tenuous as examining certain clues and nuances seek the possible origins of influences.
The key issue of that distinct scabbard flare has been an almost taunting factor to me as long as I have studied these swords of Africa. The fact that this feature appears as noted, almost invariably on the kaskaras of Sudan, but nowhere else in African sword scabbards....EXCEPT in Mali, with the Manding sabre.
So in these years, there has much speculation on what in the world this flared end means, and of course the most obvious suggestion is that it is the head of a crocodile (or snake would be also thought of as they are also seen in local motif in cases). I have seen notes of this feature on more ancient iconography which of course predates kaskara by more than centuries, but was on an edged weapon scabbard, but even this was inconclusive. I need to find the notes but it was I think a frieze of a king of Meroe with sword .
To me it seems that this notable feature is most likely meant to symbolize something, such as the crocodile head since such symbolism is of course key in the material culture and folk religions/traditions of these regional cultures. But why would it be present in Sudanese context, yet did not effect the sword cultures of the Sahara and beyond while blades, and many other characteristics did? Again, EXCEPT Mali .
In my comments on the possible influence of Omani traders on the Manding, I was inclear on the nature of that plausibility. I did not mean that Omani traders, in person, were present in these areas to the west and of course not as far as West Africa itself. What I meant is that the trade networks were the conduit in which influences are diffused, and these vast connections are relays where interactions carrying them take place.
To the Omani, these open hilt swords were primarily status oriented, much as the khanjhar daggers. That the importance of these swords was probably notably taunted to other traders in these networks must be strongly considered. While slaving was one of the key commodities as these networks moved from Zanzibar inland and northward, we cannot imagine that groups of slaves travelled such distances across the Sahara. However, as these routes entered various entrepots and centers goods etc were exchanged with the those of caravans from the west at these points, weapons and their forms etc. would catch the interest of those individuals.
It is agreed that the hilt on the dagger with cylindrical shape is compelling and seems to be of Cameroon style. But is this the result of such influences from the Manding swords, or a prototype? We cannot be sure without well provenanced examples which might provide some chronology. That there is a similarity cannot be denied, but from historical and developmental perspective we can only recognize that for face value.
The idea of independent evolution of the hilt form and styling as well as the mysterious scabbard flare in remarkably distant areas, yet profoundly keyed to two indigenous points seems almost as tenuous as the idea of direct influence.
We know that Omani infuences were 'relayed' via trade networks from Zanzibar originations and traversing African regions, via Sudan, thenceforth westward across the Sahara. One connecting point was Darfur. The most notable commonality in the nature of the trade of the caravans as well as this very region ....slaving. It was here, in my opinion, that the distinct scabbard feature (from the scabbards of kaskaras) confluence with the open hilt styling of the kattara, and these influences travelled westward.
The Omani swords with their distinct hilts, probably with curved blades, and seen with swaggering slave merchants as marks of power and prestige, may have been acquired by traders in the caravans. As they exchanged with other segments of the caravan networks, the power of the Darfur traders, here symbolized by their kaskara (with flared scabbard tip) , probably also were acquired by said traders.
Arriving in Mali, the routes were controlled by the key merchant class of the Manding. As they exchanged with the traders from the east, would it not seem likely that they may have been impressed by the profoundly status oriented swords of slave traders and merchants of Zanzibar and Darfur?
Keen leather workers, they may well have adopted the cylindrical open hilt and as they designed the symbol laden and handsome scabbards so notable on their sabres, and amalgamated the symbolic scabbard flare recalling that of the Darfur traders.
Teodor, thank you for carrying this topic to discussion where we can present and compare our views. I always look forward to other views and hope others will join in. The history of these various forms is fascinating, and its great to learn more as we look at these views.
All best regards
Jim
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