Peculiar question - alias problem with chameleon´s tail

Martin Lubojacky · 23rd January 2017, 10:00 AM

I´ll restore the Afena on the picture below. My doubts are about the missing tail: Normally, if I did not see images of chameleons in African traditional craftnmanship, I would make the tail coiled/twisted downwards - as the animal used to have it. - in reality, in the nature...

But, African craftmen used to depict the chameleon with upwards twisted tail ... (as I could see). And so I feel (against my internal conviction), I should restore it in accordance with the African craftsmen´s "heredity".

Did anybody see chameleon depicted with downwards twisted tail in traditional African art (or even on ceremonial weapons) ??? (Why the people living in compliance with the nature before, used to depict the animal´s tail exactly upside-down ???)

Kubur · 23rd January 2017, 11:53 AM

Hi Martin,

YES the most important is not the nature but the culture...
IMHO

Best,
Kubur

Roland_M · 23rd January 2017, 02:24 PM

Hello Martin,

I have found this African hair comb. Maybe this will help.
I would say, that the tail was rolled in upwards or maybe downwards.

best,
Roland

Martin Lubojacky · 23rd January 2017, 03:01 PM

Thank you Roland and Kubur

(just two photos from the nature)

Tim Simmons · 23rd January 2017, 10:24 PM

It is certainly up on your piece as there is no room for any kind of tail between the legs to carve a tail.

apolaki · 24th January 2017, 05:28 AM

I was told this is a Dahomey Hwi and it has what looks to be a chameleon with a curled tail. I googled images of "Afena swords" and came across some with similar cross shaped negative spaces within the blades. I am interested to learn the connections between Dahomey hwi, Benin ada, and Afena which I briefly read is form the Asante?

Thanks for any information you can provide.

Martin Lubojacky · 29th January 2017, 05:01 PM

Hi Apolaki,

I think your sword is not classical Dahomean hwi and I would say it is (not old) Yoruba cereminial cutlass. I do not know its name, nevertheless some people call them (also) Ada, although acc to Ch. Spring the name Ada belongs to much bigger swords of Oba/king (former Kingdom of Benin in the current Nigerian territory). I do not know the meaning of symbology. As far as the connection is concerned - Dahomey and Yoruba were neighbours (often in war), I think the mythology was similar. From Yorubaland it is not far to Bini ... It also looks like the one of favourite war weapons in western part of Guinea Coast was cutlass with bulbous tip. It could influence the form of cerenmonial items ...

23rd January 2017, 10:00 AM	#1
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	Peculiar question - alias problem with chameleon´s tail I´ll restore the Afena on the picture below. My doubts are about the missing tail: Normally, if I did not see images of chameleons in African traditional craftnmanship, I would make the tail coiled/twisted downwards - as the animal used to have it. - in reality, in the nature... But, African craftmen used to depict the chameleon with upwards twisted tail ... (as I could see). And so I feel (against my internal conviction), I should restore it in accordance with the African craftsmen´s "heredity". Did anybody see chameleon depicted with downwards twisted tail in traditional African art (or even on ceremonial weapons) ??? (Why the people living in compliance with the nature before, used to depict the animal´s tail exactly upside-down ???) Attached Images

23rd January 2017, 02:24 PM	#3
Roland_M Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 525	Hello Martin, I have found this African hair comb. Maybe this will help. I would say, that the tail was rolled in upwards or maybe downwards. best, Roland Attached Images

23rd January 2017, 03:01 PM	#4
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	Thank you Roland and Kubur (just two photos from the nature) Attached Images

24th January 2017, 05:28 AM	#6
apolaki Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 160	I was told this is a Dahomey Hwi and it has what looks to be a chameleon with a curled tail. I googled images of "Afena swords" and came across some with similar cross shaped negative spaces within the blades. I am interested to learn the connections between Dahomey hwi, Benin ada, and Afena which I briefly read is form the Asante? Thanks for any information you can provide. Attached Images

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23rd January 2017, 11:53 AM	#2
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Hi Martin, YES the most important is not the nature but the culture... IMHO Best, Kubur

23rd January 2017, 10:24 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	It is certainly up on your piece as there is no room for any kind of tail between the legs to carve a tail.

29th January 2017, 05:01 PM	#7
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	Hi Apolaki, I think your sword is not classical Dahomean hwi and I would say it is (not old) Yoruba cereminial cutlass. I do not know its name, nevertheless some people call them (also) Ada, although acc to Ch. Spring the name Ada belongs to much bigger swords of Oba/king (former Kingdom of Benin in the current Nigerian territory). I do not know the meaning of symbology. As far as the connection is concerned - Dahomey and Yoruba were neighbours (often in war), I think the mythology was similar. From Yorubaland it is not far to Bini ... It also looks like the one of favourite war weapons in western part of Guinea Coast was cutlass with bulbous tip. It could influence the form of cerenmonial items ...