Some period photos of African 'knights'

[Dom]

Originally Posted by Iain

Actually Portuguese makes the most sense as they had established trade centers and commercial activity on the West African coast around the time these helmets were popular. Not such a long way then into Niger.

Yes Ian
caravan tracks are really a spider net, all azimuths, in Sahara ...
and not only in our days
between; salt, slaves, and sometimes more conventional as "pure trade"
the caravans was (are) crossed the Sahara, in all senses
and they was probably in trading with the Portugueses, that's makes a sense, for sure
all the best

à +

Dom