Opinions on a Takouba

RomaRana · 7th May 2006, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manolo

Hello Jim,

The aversion to touching metal is also seen amongst the Masai is it not? As I understand it, the whole cult associated with smiths and metal craftsmen ,

Before selecting a sword or spear from the smith Maasai men must first grease their hands. Also, traditionally the smithing races - Chagga and debased Maasai groups who lost their cattle during the rinderpest epidemic were historically kept in a state of near slavery. For payment they were given bad animal, which the Maasai raised for them and kept until they were needed for slaughter.

Many of the smithing groups also were not allowed to circumcise their males because it was believed that they were unclean due to the metal work but also because it was thought that they contained both a male and female essence.

You also see the fear of the blacksmith in the old Mali epic the Sundiata and it goes into great detail about this.

Tim Simmons · 7th May 2006, 09:40 PM

It is more than possible that there was is a caste system at work with the taboo on touching iron, I think we all know that. Take the all metal spears, I am lucky to have two examples. They often have another material around the haft as a grip usually brass or leather. I have one which is rather fine with brass sheet wrap as a grip. The other spear of lesser quality has no grip material, there is no sign that even a leather one had been there. So the more ardent attempt to follow any taboo may have only applied to the higher caste. The lower caste being nearly or in fact slaves as I believe is still the case today in some of the more inaccessible region of the Sahara.

Emanuel · 7th May 2006, 11:28 PM

Hello,

I have just found an informative (to me) French article on the Touareg, and it offers some good insights on these issues. Fr. de Zeltner. "Les Touareg Du Sud" The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 44. (Jul. - Dec., 1914), pp. 351-375.

On social organization it says "Touareg society is divided into four castes: the nobles Imocher; the vassals Imrad; the captives Iklan; the craftsmen Inadan. This division is the same from west to east, but it varies in importance from place to place." In some areas vassals and captives may be "rich" while in others they are poor. While in the west captives may be oppressed and living in terrible conditions of poverty, in the east they may benefit of considerable trust from the nobles, dressing like them and even wearing arms. Here there is a distinction between the types of spears used: "...instead of the Allar, the great iron spear, they only have the Tarda, whose haft is wooden..."

Further on, the articles touches upon armament, and once again presents a distinction between the types of spears. "...the Allar, made in one single piece, in iron, ornamented by a brass section; the tip is thin and leaf shaped with two barbs...it is never thrown...The captives wear the Tarda, whose tip is very large(wide), without barbs, the haft is wooden, and the lower extremity is ornamented with a talon widening in a spatula."
The brass decoration on the nobles's spear may be to avoid touching the iron, but in absence of pictures I do not know where it would be placed.

The article also gives basic descriptions of the Arrer shield, the Takouba and the Telek, and barbed javellins.

It also covers crafts, giving examples of jewellery and leather containers like those posted by Tim. Apparently eastern crafts are far more delicate and intricate than western, possibly due to influences from the Haussa. While the Touarg generally follow Islam, it seems they kept a lot of their pre-Islam superstitions. The evil eye motif is very common, and everything is decorated in geometric patterns. As regards to metal objects, jewellery may be copper, brass or silver and gold, and I haven't founs any mention of iron and steel.

The article provides a very interesting aside, introducing rock carvings apparently pre-dating modern Touaregs or at least parallel to their culture. These include writing and depiction of people and animals of all kinds, rendered either schematically or in great lifelike detail. Apparently modern Touaregs believe these were carved by a giant named Anegoura.. This may provide some clues as to thier attraction to stylized geometric representations.

This article dates from 1914, so it is old information and possible prone to error. I will try to find a copy of the article of Dr. Lloyd Cabot-Briggs you suggested Jim, as well as some newer sources.

I find this thread excellent, and I'm learning many new things. I hope the article is of some use to others.
Regards,
Emanuel

Jim McDougall · 8th May 2006, 03:46 AM

Nicely done Manolo!!
Thank you for posting that article, I had not heard of it before. Is it in French or English?
You're right, we keep learning together here. I think it's most important to discover and share as much data as possible.
All best regards,
Jim

Emanuel · 9th May 2006, 02:34 AM

Hello Jim,

This article is in french, but I've found many others in english as well. It will take me a while to read them all, but the french one confirmed Tim's observations about the wraps on the spears and the caste differentiation, and your own about Sudanic influences. About the takouba, all I've found so far is that they could be worn by nobles, vassals and captives/slaves alike. I'll see what further info I can find about the brass and decoration styles.

RomaRana, thanks for the clarification on the Maasai. It seems to me I've also heard talk of the avoidance of iron on religious principles, something to do with its inherent strength and its transmutation from ore to metal, and liquid to solid. Also, why did they regard smiths as containing a female essence as well? Could the unclean attribute be due to the oxidation of iron? Magic link between red rust and blood?
Sorry, I'm throwing a lot of questions and thoughts...

Warm regards,
Emanuel

Emanuel · 11th May 2006, 02:34 AM

Hello,

I've found some more information that generally answers the question of the use of brass on the takouba:
Aspects of the Use of Copper in Pre-Colonial West Africa
Eugenia W. Herbert
The Journal of African History, Vol. 14, No. 2. (1973), pp. 179-194

The author argues for the use of copper among African peoples as a rare, prized, magical metal. "...aside from its ornamental and status value, copper was also considered to have amuletic or magical properties, in the first case encouraging fertility, in the second warding off danger...copper and brass decoration is applied to Tuareg swords, both hilt and blade...Its purpose is to enable the sword to penetrate the magical defenses of the enemy [who is also wearing copper/brass as a protective measure], and at the same time to protect the bearer from the offensive charms of his adversary: 'A sword without copper on the hilt is destined for the demons of solitude. Sooner or later it breaks, if the owner does not loose it first.'...the Tuareg and Moors consider iron an impure metal, and neutralize it by encrusting copper and brass on [tools]"
For me this definitely clarifies the brass hilts, but I still do not understand why iron is regarded as an impure metal. I'll guess that active rust has something to do with it.

The takouba I posted really takes the concept to overkill.

I hope this is as useful to others as it was to me,
Emanuel

Jim McDougall · 11th May 2006, 03:36 AM

Emanuel,
Brilliant research!!! That is exactly what I always hope for... well supported, cited and detailed references to answer the questions we ask on particular elements on certain weapons. That will definitely go in the files!!!!
Thank you for researching that and posting it.
Well done!

All the best,
Jim

7th May 2006, 11:28 PM	#3
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello, I have just found an informative (to me) French article on the Touareg, and it offers some good insights on these issues. Fr. de Zeltner. "Les Touareg Du Sud" The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 44. (Jul. - Dec., 1914), pp. 351-375. On social organization it says "Touareg society is divided into four castes: the nobles Imocher; the vassals Imrad; the captives Iklan; the craftsmen Inadan. This division is the same from west to east, but it varies in importance from place to place." In some areas vassals and captives may be "rich" while in others they are poor. While in the west captives may be oppressed and living in terrible conditions of poverty, in the east they may benefit of considerable trust from the nobles, dressing like them and even wearing arms. Here there is a distinction between the types of spears used: "...instead of the Allar, the great iron spear, they only have the Tarda, whose haft is wooden..." Further on, the articles touches upon armament, and once again presents a distinction between the types of spears. "...the Allar, made in one single piece, in iron, ornamented by a brass section; the tip is thin and leaf shaped with two barbs...it is never thrown...The captives wear the Tarda, whose tip is very large(wide), without barbs, the haft is wooden, and the lower extremity is ornamented with a talon widening in a spatula." The brass decoration on the nobles's spear may be to avoid touching the iron, but in absence of pictures I do not know where it would be placed. The article also gives basic descriptions of the Arrer shield, the Takouba and the Telek, and barbed javellins. It also covers crafts, giving examples of jewellery and leather containers like those posted by Tim. Apparently eastern crafts are far more delicate and intricate than western, possibly due to influences from the Haussa. While the Touarg generally follow Islam, it seems they kept a lot of their pre-Islam superstitions. The evil eye motif is very common, and everything is decorated in geometric patterns. As regards to metal objects, jewellery may be copper, brass or silver and gold, and I haven't founs any mention of iron and steel. The article provides a very interesting aside, introducing rock carvings apparently pre-dating modern Touaregs or at least parallel to their culture. These include writing and depiction of people and animals of all kinds, rendered either schematically or in great lifelike detail. Apparently modern Touaregs believe these were carved by a giant named Anegoura.. This may provide some clues as to thier attraction to stylized geometric representations. This article dates from 1914, so it is old information and possible prone to error. I will try to find a copy of the article of Dr. Lloyd Cabot-Briggs you suggested Jim, as well as some newer sources. I find this thread excellent, and I'm learning many new things. I hope the article is of some use to others. Regards, Emanuel Attached Images Last edited by Manolo; 7th May 2006 at 11:53 PM.

7th May 2006, 09:40 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	It is more than possible that there was is a caste system at work with the taboo on touching iron, I think we all know that. Take the all metal spears, I am lucky to have two examples. They often have another material around the haft as a grip usually brass or leather. I have one which is rather fine with brass sheet wrap as a grip. The other spear of lesser quality has no grip material, there is no sign that even a leather one had been there. So the more ardent attempt to follow any taboo may have only applied to the higher caste. The lower caste being nearly or in fact slaves as I believe is still the case today in some of the more inaccessible region of the Sahara.

8th May 2006, 03:46 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Nicely done Manolo!! Thank you for posting that article, I had not heard of it before. Is it in French or English? You're right, we keep learning together here. I think it's most important to discover and share as much data as possible. All best regards, Jim

9th May 2006, 02:34 AM	#5
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello Jim, This article is in french, but I've found many others in english as well. It will take me a while to read them all, but the french one confirmed Tim's observations about the wraps on the spears and the caste differentiation, and your own about Sudanic influences. About the takouba, all I've found so far is that they could be worn by nobles, vassals and captives/slaves alike. I'll see what further info I can find about the brass and decoration styles. RomaRana, thanks for the clarification on the Maasai. It seems to me I've also heard talk of the avoidance of iron on religious principles, something to do with its inherent strength and its transmutation from ore to metal, and liquid to solid. Also, why did they regard smiths as containing a female essence as well? Could the unclean attribute be due to the oxidation of iron? Magic link between red rust and blood? Sorry, I'm throwing a lot of questions and thoughts... Warm regards, Emanuel

11th May 2006, 02:34 AM	#6
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello, I've found some more information that generally answers the question of the use of brass on the takouba: Aspects of the Use of Copper in Pre-Colonial West Africa Eugenia W. Herbert The Journal of African History, Vol. 14, No. 2. (1973), pp. 179-194 The author argues for the use of copper among African peoples as a rare, prized, magical metal. "...aside from its ornamental and status value, copper was also considered to have amuletic or magical properties, in the first case encouraging fertility, in the second warding off danger...copper and brass decoration is applied to Tuareg swords, both hilt and blade...Its purpose is to enable the sword to penetrate the magical defenses of the enemy [who is also wearing copper/brass as a protective measure], and at the same time to protect the bearer from the offensive charms of his adversary: 'A sword without copper on the hilt is destined for the demons of solitude. Sooner or later it breaks, if the owner does not loose it first.'...the Tuareg and Moors consider iron an impure metal, and neutralize it by encrusting copper and brass on [tools]" For me this definitely clarifies the brass hilts, but I still do not understand why iron is regarded as an impure metal. I'll guess that active rust has something to do with it. The takouba I posted really takes the concept to overkill. I hope this is as useful to others as it was to me, Emanuel

11th May 2006, 03:36 AM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Emanuel, Brilliant research!!! That is exactly what I always hope for... well supported, cited and detailed references to answer the questions we ask on particular elements on certain weapons. That will definitely go in the files!!!! Thank you for researching that and posting it. Well done! All the best, Jim