Is this sword from Benin or Dahomey?

apolaki · 17th January 2017, 07:13 AM

Can anyone tell me what type of sword this is? Also, how do you tell the difference between Benin ada swords and Dahomey hwi?

Thanks,

Apolaki

ariel · 17th January 2017, 08:41 AM

Yup: Hwl.
What is it made of? Bronze?

Benin was famous for its bronze casting. And Benin and Dahomey is the same thing: it just changed the name

apolaki · 17th January 2017, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Yup: Hwl.
What is it made of? Bronze?

Benin was famous for its bronze casting. And Benin and Dahomey is the same thing: it just changed the name

Thanks for your response. According to Wikipedia, these two kingdoms are different:

"The Benin Empire was a pre-colonial empire located in what is now southern Nigeria. Its capital was Edo, now known as Benin City, Edo. It should not be confused with the modern-day country called Benin, formerly called Dahomey."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin_Empire

Jim McDougall · 20th January 2017, 03:43 AM

Just elaborating on what Ariel has already noted.

This weapon appears to be a ceremonial 'hwi' from Dahomean regions, which were in the coastal areas of West Africa. These are best described in "African Arms & Armour" by Christopher Spring, using material from "Sabres Decores du Dahomey" (Palau Marti, 'Objets et Mondes' VII:4, 1967).
These are, like the 'ada', ceremonial and bearing type swords.

It seems that these areas using the hwi are typically regarded as Dahomean as suggested by the reference mentioned. This kingdom as visited by Burton was referred to as Dahomey. The kingdom of Benin was indeed inland and primarily in Nigeria.

While likely having certain similarities, I think this would be most probably be considered a Dahomean 'hwi'. These swords have a considerable spectrum of variation heavy with symbolic motif. Note the crosses, which may allude to earlier influences from Portuguese swords and seen on early African versions of European swords with such openwork crosses on the quillon terminals.

17th January 2017, 07:13 AM	#1
apolaki Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 160	Is this sword from Benin or Dahomey? Can anyone tell me what type of sword this is? Also, how do you tell the difference between Benin ada swords and Dahomey hwi? Thanks, Apolaki Attached Images

17th January 2017, 08:41 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Yup: Hwl. What is it made of? Bronze? Benin was famous for its bronze casting. And Benin and Dahomey is the same thing: it just changed the name Last edited by ariel; 17th January 2017 at 01:05 PM.

20th January 2017, 03:43 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,946	Just elaborating on what Ariel has already noted. This weapon appears to be a ceremonial 'hwi' from Dahomean regions, which were in the coastal areas of West Africa. These are best described in "African Arms & Armour" by Christopher Spring, using material from "Sabres Decores du Dahomey" (Palau Marti, 'Objets et Mondes' VII:4, 1967). These are, like the 'ada', ceremonial and bearing type swords. It seems that these areas using the hwi are typically regarded as Dahomean as suggested by the reference mentioned. This kingdom as visited by Burton was referred to as Dahomey. The kingdom of Benin was indeed inland and primarily in Nigeria. While likely having certain similarities, I think this would be most probably be considered a Dahomean 'hwi'. These swords have a considerable spectrum of variation heavy with symbolic motif. Note the crosses, which may allude to earlier influences from Portuguese swords and seen on early African versions of European swords with such openwork crosses on the quillon terminals.