Islamic Axe for I D and Comment

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

I'll keep it warm for later then.

But seriously. I completely agree. The search for facts is what's important. Being proven wrong by the uncovering of the truth is still a victory of knowledge over ignorance, and that's what matters
In short I'm happy to be proven wrong if I learn something.

My small addition to this particular quest is that the 'medalion' with it's laurel wreath border and islamic script is something that is reminiscent of Ottoman coins. Including far flung ones from places like Egypt and Tunisia.
These coin designs sometimes survive in odd ways long after they have become an anacronism.
Look at tokens, gaming counters and the like made in European nations?

This experience with axes recently has shown me that I need to expand my knowledge in that area.
In fact axes, spears, shaft weapons in general. Too many subtle differences I was unaware of!

Gene,
I completely agree with Gav, and the whole purpose of these forums, at least as far as I understand, is to learn together by discussing. While friendly congratulations and admiration of a newly acquired weapon is pleasant and pleasing, I always look forward to those who make helpful comments and observations, especially if detailed thoughts and ideas are expressed.

Quite frankly I had not given much attention to African axes, and this one has provided great learning opportunity. Your observation on this disc or medallion or whatever it is ,perfectly well placed, and the great thing is that you always participate and are willing to learn as well, like me I look forward to other ideas, opinions and especially corrected material.

It will be interesting to see what the experts come up with on this axe, and we will all learn together as always

Keep on truckin' Gene!!!
All the best,
Jim

[kahnjar1]

Thank you Gentlemen for your comments and information so far.
I would now like to make some assumptions and would like some feedback on what you think.
1.We now seem to agree that this axe is from what is now modern day Tanzania, which of course was the name given to the combined countries of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
2. It is assumed that the language spoken in Tanganyika was some sort of african dialect.
3. Zanzibar was under the control of the Sultanate of Oman from 1698 until 1890 when the British interfered.
4. It is assumed that the language spoken in Zanzibar at that time would largely have been Arabic.
5.This axe has a cartouche in Arabic, so we assume that it "lived" in Zanzibar.
6. Assuming that the date 1307 (1889ad) on the cartouche is accurate, then this axe existed in Zanzibar under Omani rule, as the British did not take power until 1890.
If the above IS correct then this axe, although of african origin in design, is actually of Arabian (Omani) heritage.

[Tim Simmons]

It could just happen to be decorated with a found object. This form of axe is found over a vast area of Africa. There was an Arab outpost deep in East Africa, visited by Hanning and Burton in there search for the source of the Nile. I will add the name of it latter.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Thank you Gentlemen for your comments and information so far.
I would now like to make some assumptions and would like some feedback on what you think.
1.We now seem to agree that this axe is from what is now modern day Tanzania, which of course was the name given to the combined countries of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
2. It is assumed that the language spoken in Tanganyika was some sort of african dialect.
3. Zanzibar was under the control of the Sultanate of Oman from 1698 until 1890 when the British interfered.
4. It is assumed that the language spoken in Zanzibar at that time would largely have been Arabic.
5.This axe has a cartouche in Arabic, so we assume that it "lived" in Zanzibar.
6. Assuming that the date 1307 (1889ad) on the cartouche is accurate, then this axe existed in Zanzibar under Omani rule, as the British did not take power until 1890.
If the above IS correct then this axe, although of african origin in design, is actually of Arabian (Omani) heritage.

Stu,

Great that direction has been found but Zanzibar to my mind would not be correct for this axe, I would say mainland Africa as there was just as much influence on the ground there.
I'd be interested in thoughts from others with regards to your assumptons.

Gav

[Dom]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Thank you Gentlemen for your comments and information so far.
I would now like to make some assumptions and would like some feedback on what you think.
1.We now seem to agree that this axe is from what is now modern day Tanzania, which of course was the name given to the combined countries of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
2. It is assumed that the language spoken in Tanganyika was some sort of african dialect.
3. Zanzibar was under the control of the Sultanate of Oman from 1698 until 1890 when the British interfered.
4. It is assumed that the language spoken in Zanzibar at that time would largely have been Arabic.
5.This axe has a cartouche in Arabic, so we assume that it "lived" in Zanzibar.
6. Assuming that the date 1307 (1889ad) on the cartouche is accurate, then this axe existed in Zanzibar under Omani rule, as the British did not take power until 1890.
If the above IS correct then this axe, although of african origin in design, is actually of Arabian (Omani) heritage.

no objection at my point of view,
this demonstration makes sense

à +

Dom

[Jim McDougall]

Excellent synopsis of the established facts and presumptions collectively.
Perhaps this might serve well in reflecting on the note made concerning Arab outposts in East Africa.

1.Zanzibar became a part of the Sultanate of Oman, though as a trade center, it began as an Omani trade station, or outpost.
2. Zanzibar is located in East Africa
Therefore there were Arab outposts in East Africa as well as across the continent. This was one of the key factors in the diffusion of Islam both religiously and culturally. Eventually many of these outposts which were strategically along established trade routes developed into towns and eventually cities.

In considering the possible provenance of this axe, which it seems generally agreed to carry distinctly Islamic affectation, with a number of the features characteristically Arab, and even more defined as Omani. The typology of the axe itself seems however to correspond to forms well known throughout Central African tribal groups, with certain provenanced examples known to belong to Bantu slavers.
As we know that Bantu slavers were in league with the Omani slave trade operating out of Zanzibar as well as probably others, and we know that the routes frequented by these caravans headed for Zanzibar headed into what is now Tanzania enroute to Zanzibar. It stands to reason that axes of this type, known to be used by Bantu in Central African regions, probably diffused with trade and various interaction to contiguous regions and tribes through time.

The fact that this carries Islamic decoration and features does not distinguish it at Zanzibari, we can only assume that it is plausible it may have ended up there with an individual connected to the commerce situated there.
We cannot therefore call it an 'Omani' axe, as it is of a well established African tribal form geographically well dispersed, and known to be used by various tribes. The decoration, which resembles well known 'Arab' elements, may be from Omani sources, or Hadhramati, but the presumption to Oman is due to the connection to the known slave trade in Zanzibar.Also considered are the examples of these type axes attributed to Bantu slavers and examples from Tanzania (part of Zanzibar). Since Slaving was one of the key elements of commerce present in this sector of East Africa and Zanzibar the connections seem compelling.

It should be pointed out that Zanzibar itself was a trade metropolis by the middle of the 19th century with profound international and cultural diversity.
There are a number of weapons presumed to be from Zanzibar, however this does not seem to be their true origin. The Omani kattara for example was in the time of Richard Burton ("Book of the Sword" 1884) often considered a Zanzibar sword because of its prevalence there with Omani merchants. The curious dirk type weapon termed by Burton 'Zanzibar sword' was presumed so, again because of its prevalence there. These 'I' hilt weapons (similar to the European baselard) were improperly identified first by Demmin (1877), and later discovered to actually be a form of the s'boula from Morocco (confirmed by Buttin in 1933, discussed in my research 2003). Also typically classified as from Zanzibar (Buttin 1933) are the sa'if (known as nim'cha) with the hilt similar to the Moroccan form, but with a perpendicular ring on the crossguard. These, though typically found in Yemen, are said to have been produced by armourers in Zanzibar using trade blades.

The key importance to this example referring to the Zanzibar sword is that the geographically wide separation and appearance of these weapons illustrates tne vast distances and dynamics of the trade networks, and an interesting connection that reflects this is the presence of these same type weapons in Ethiopia.
It should be noted that while Ethiopia (then Abyssinia) was primarily Christian, Harar and its regions were nominally Muslim, as was Somalia, other points of trade where Arab outposts were quite present.

In conclusion I would restate that this axe could be from one of many East African locations where Arab influence prevailed , and probably in association with Omani slave trade merchants. It seems to be decorated in accord with the merchants desire to reflect status, power and wealth much in the same manner as used by businessmen, leaders etc. through history and what seems a well known practice with the merchants of Oman.

Incidentally, John Hanning Speke was with Sir Richard Francis Burton in Somaliland in 1854, and they were also in Zanzibar.They discovered Lake Tanganyika in 1858 in thier quest for the Nile source.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Thank you Gentlemen for your comments and information so far.
I would now like to make some assumptions and would like some feedback on what you think.
1.We now seem to agree that this axe is from what is now modern day Tanzania, which of course was the name given to the combined countries of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
2. It is assumed that the language spoken in Tanganyika was some sort of african dialect.
3. Zanzibar was under the control of the Sultanate of Oman from 1698 until 1890 when the British interfered.
4. It is assumed that the language spoken in Zanzibar at that time would largely have been Arabic.
5.This axe has a cartouche in Arabic, so we assume that it "lived" in Zanzibar.
6. Assuming that the date 1307 (1889ad) on the cartouche is accurate, then this axe existed in Zanzibar under Omani rule, as the British did not take power until 1890.
If the above IS correct then this axe, although of african origin in design, is actually of Arabian (Omani) heritage.

It was never my intention to say that this axe ORIGINATED in Zanzibar but that at some stage it "lived" there. As we are well aware from other threads, the existance of BORDERS as we know them, meant nothing to the tribes who inhabited the land, and it was not until the colonial powers started taking their "empires", that actual borders came into existance as we know them today. For the sake of agreement can we say that the axe comes from East Africa, and at some stage in its life has had some definate contact with the Arab world?

[Tim Simmons]

From " Manfred A. Zirngibl & Alexander, Panga na visu" very nice book. I think Ujiji was the furthest west Arab trading market.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

From " Manfred A. Zirngibl & Alexander, Panga na visu" very nice book. I think Ujiji was the furthest west Arab trading market.

Thanks Tim, I think this confirms Tanzania (Tanganyika).
Stu

[Jim McDougall]

Good discourse, and clarification.....well placed examples from Zirngibl/Alexander.
For those reading, it should be noted that Ujiji would have been a trade outpost in western Tanzania, and located near Lake Tanganyika. It was indeed near a slave trade route.

I think we agree that the axe is likely East African, and as noted has been embellished with Arab decoration, with the possibility that this derives from slave related commerce that corresponds to routes coming out of Zanzibar, part of the Sultanate of Oman, known for that particular activity.