Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

colin henshaw · 27th December 2009, 01:54 PM

Hi Martin

Interesting topic, as you say. I think the answer could be for two reasons :-

Firstly, the peoples in question were often nomadic or semi-nomadic, so material would travel in this way. Secondly, many of these tribespeoples being Muslim, there was considerable traffic across the Sahel from West Africa to Arabia and back, to perform the Hajj, and this would also act as a conduit for material.

Seemingly, West African swords (takouba) were recovered from the Mahdist Sudan. I've also read somewhere that Moroccan pilgrims would pay their fare across the Red Sea with a jambiya...

But its a big subject, with much more to it and worthy of research, I guess...

Regards
Colin

27th December 2009, 01:54 PM	#7
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Hi Martin Interesting topic, as you say. I think the answer could be for two reasons :- Firstly, the peoples in question were often nomadic or semi-nomadic, so material would travel in this way. Secondly, many of these tribespeoples being Muslim, there was considerable traffic across the Sahel from West Africa to Arabia and back, to perform the Hajj, and this would also act as a conduit for material. Seemingly, West African swords (takouba) were recovered from the Mahdist Sudan. I've also read somewhere that Moroccan pilgrims would pay their fare across the Red Sea with a jambiya... But its a big subject, with much more to it and worthy of research, I guess... Regards Colin