![]() |
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 46
|
![]()
Hi,
I recently acquired this dagger that is giving me Northern Nigeria/Cameroon Mandara mountains vibes but I'm not entirely certain. If anyone can provide a more definitive ID that would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any insights. - ADS |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 462
|
![]()
it looks like you have an Hausa dagger, it may be an early 20th century piece or later, very difficult to date such things.
they come from a number of countries where the Hausa culture has spread see a similar piece http://www.vikingsword.com/lew/w0048/w0048.html Last edited by milandro; 26th January 2024 at 03:17 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 | |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 46
|
![]() Quote:
- ADS |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,732
|
![]()
Hello ADS,
You are correct IMHO, it's a Mandara dagger, see the attached picture taken from this link: https://african-weapons.com/gallery?...-cameroon-32cm It's for sure not Hausa, sorry Milandro. ![]() Regards, Detlef |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,167
|
![]()
Detlef and AdS,
Two very similar knives. Double-edged blade, central rib, and the presence of a waist. Same style of hilt. Looks like a strong ID. Thanks Detlef. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 841
|
![]()
Hi,
I bought cca in 2009 in a small town Rhumsiki in the Mandara mountains in northern Cameroon very simmilar knife (not only central rib, but also the lower part of the sheath). http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=Mandara+knife |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,732
|
![]() Quote:
Thank you but the thank has to go to our member Wodimi, he is the owner of a great research site: https://african-weapons.com/gallery?...word-and-knife I only have seen that the Hausa attribution was not correct and have searched a little bit on his site and found that the Mandara attribution seems to be correct. Regards, Detlef |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,732
|
![]() Quote:
Yes, it's a dagger from the Mandara mountains but from a different tribe, it's from the Kirdi tribes when I follow Wodimis attribution. See the example from his site. Regards, Detlef |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,614
|
![]()
To be fair to everyone in this thread, identifying knives from West Africa and the Mandara mountains is not an easy task. Outside of the 70s Wente-Lukas book, which I do not have, there really is not much published on the subject. Zirngibl focuses on prestige and rarer items. Other books may have an example or two, but often times we will see knives simply classified as Hausa, Fulani or simply Kirdi, which to my understanding is a somewhat derogatory term used by Muslims to describe all the pagans in the Mandara area.
The best source are probably the Quai Branly online collections, but finding the right match, if one even exists there, requires a lot of browsing. It is always very valuable when someone like Martin who collected in the field can post examples that are at least somewhat similar. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 46
|
![]()
Thank you Detlef, Martin, and everyone who responded, I appreciate the picture references and additional information.
- ADS |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|