The Takouba Sword.

[Peter Hudson]

Readers will be aware that this is the sword of The Tuareg.

There are excellent accounts on this style of weapon which members can reach by simply placing Tuareg Swords...Or Takouba into Search .

On the other hand there is another way of viewing the details by going to the .... top of this page and tapping on www.vikingsword.com and scrolling down to AFRICA where you will find two references to excellent works which are

[B]1.Takouba - Swords of the Saharan Tuareg.
2..Takouba Research Society.[/B

On my travels I have discovered a few examples in variouis antique souks and recently in a Northern England Antiques store .... and I have been interested in other aspects of the weapon ...since I know it was used in unison with the TUAREG spear...and I suspect also with a Tuareg shield ....I suspect that the cross seen carved into the design of the Tuareg Camel Saddle has some relation to this sword or as a further defence mechanism but I dont know for sure... I do know that the Tuareg have occasional camel races and the Takouba is given as first prize to the winner...And I note a further peculiar two bladed sword with a long hilt that looks like a specially designed , perhaps religious ritual or for wearing at celebrations ... I also note that on some blades I have seen the end of the blade is cut or squared off...either by accident or design thus that is another question... and of course the similarity in the two moons facing each other on
each blade face. Peter Hudson.

[Jim McDougall]

This is excellent Peter, and a good opportunity to bring together a good discussion on these distinctive Saharan swords! While these of course have been discussed countless times on these pages over many years, these days there are many new members who of course will not recall or be aware of these. The articles you link are outstanding, and the history of these tribal peoples and these swords is fascinating.

As you well note, there are similarities in the cross (typically the Agadez cross if I recall) in the saddle and in many aspects of material culture including elements of the sword. The cross is not seen typically as any particular religious symbol, but having to do with the four cardinal directions.

There are many interpretations for symbolism associated with blades on these, with the twin opposed moons being most familiar, and these are termed 'dukari'.

I hope we will see examples posted here so we can discuss and learn from the peculiarities found on them.

I'm trying to find a PDF of "European Swords and Blades in Tuareg Swords and Daggers", Lloyd Cabot Briggs, JAAS, 1965, which has become not only a benchmark work for study of these swords, but European sword blades as well. Anybody out there got this?

[Peter Hudson]

Thanks Jim your reply is much appreciated. I pulled a camel saddle agadez cross picture off the web and it can be viewed at https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1547...a04b8710459ee9

Peter Hudson

[Peter Hudson]

Naturally the main reference has to be placed here as http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/takouba.html Peter Hudson.

[Peter Hudson]

https://swordis.com/blog/takouba-sword/ provides an interesting lead in to this style of sword...Peter Hudson.

[Bob A]

Sadly, the Takouba Research Society link appears dead, or at least inactive/unavailable.

The overall presentation of takouba information was of value, and now seems lost to time.