Two new acquisitions from Somalia

Martin Lubojacky · 16th February 2022, 12:27 PM

Hi,

I'm afraid sometimes we have been creating imaginary categories in areas we have little information about....

From my point of view there are few credible resp. seriously verifiable information from the field and information documented by photo documentation re. these knives. In addition, their types / variations have also been evolving (I have visited the same areas in Ethiopia within 23 years time frame - shapes, sizes, materials are changing. Also some heavy, large types known cca 70n years ago have disappeared totally, small, working (and less conspicuous) versions have appeared).

The range of these types of knives is, in my opinion (of course I could be wrong), is used in northeastern Ethiopia around Hargeisa and in the area of Somaliland.

Martin Lubojacky · 16th February 2022, 12:29 PM

-- I meant the first two knives from the beginning of the thread

Sajen · 16th February 2022, 03:21 PM

Martin and Yvain,

I am far from an expert for this area, I only remembered to have seen these type of knives here before and searched for the thread I've given in up.
Equal how you would call them, they are most intersting and made until now like Martin stated. I like them.

Regards,
Detlef

Yvain · 16th February 2022, 09:00 PM

Thanks guys! 🙂

Interestingly, I found this : https://m.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-...urreau/page/1/ in the Quai Branly collections. According to the database, it was collected before 1936, which makes me wonder if my aluminium grip billao might be older than I thought...

G. Mansfield · 18th February 2022, 12:53 AM

Another similar Somali knife dating to at least 1935 from the British Museum..

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec...1935-1108-48-a

These seem to have been popular around pre-war and certainly are still made today.
Attached is a photo from Italian Somaliland during World War II and another of one in my collection.

-Geoff

Martin Lubojacky · 18th February 2022, 10:05 AM

Geoff, Thank you for sending an important (at least for me) photo! The British Museum knife allocation is also interesting (Ogaden is part of Ethiopia and Darod lives along the border (if my memory still serves orrectly)
Martin

18th February 2022, 12:53 AM	#5
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Colorado Posts: 91	Another similar Somali knife dating to at least 1935 from the British Museum.. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec...1935-1108-48-a These seem to have been popular around pre-war and certainly are still made today. Attached is a photo from Italian Somaliland during World War II and another of one in my collection. -Geoff Attached Images

16th February 2022, 12:27 PM	#1
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Hi, I'm afraid sometimes we have been creating imaginary categories in areas we have little information about.... From my point of view there are few credible resp. seriously verifiable information from the field and information documented by photo documentation re. these knives. In addition, their types / variations have also been evolving (I have visited the same areas in Ethiopia within 23 years time frame - shapes, sizes, materials are changing. Also some heavy, large types known cca 70n years ago have disappeared totally, small, working (and less conspicuous) versions have appeared). The range of these types of knives is, in my opinion (of course I could be wrong), is used in northeastern Ethiopia around Hargeisa and in the area of Somaliland.

16th February 2022, 12:29 PM	#2
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	-- I meant the first two knives from the beginning of the thread

16th February 2022, 03:21 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,164	Martin and Yvain, I am far from an expert for this area, I only remembered to have seen these type of knives here before and searched for the thread I've given in up. Equal how you would call them, they are most intersting and made until now like Martin stated. I like them. Regards, Detlef

16th February 2022, 09:00 PM	#4
Yvain Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 179	Thanks guys! 🙂 Interestingly, I found this : https://m.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-...urreau/page/1/ in the Quai Branly collections. According to the database, it was collected before 1936, which makes me wonder if my aluminium grip billao might be older than I thought...

18th February 2022, 10:05 AM	#6
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Geoff, Thank you for sending an important (at least for me) photo! The British Museum knife allocation is also interesting (Ogaden is part of Ethiopia and Darod lives along the border (if my memory still serves orrectly) Martin