Islamic Axe for I D and Comment

[colin henshaw]

Hi

An interesting African axe and good discussions on its potential origins etc. I would just like to add a few further points for conjecture :-

The axe is a recognised type from Tanzania and down into Mozambique, made by Africans. They were often "badges of office" used by headmen or important personages and carried on the shoulder. The trade brass and copper wire, and brass upholstery nails, were common African adornment used on weapons.

As noted, this area of Eastern Africa was extensively penetrated in the 19th century by Arabs of Omani origin (also Swahili and Baluchi) slavers and ivory traders. They established an extensive network of transportation, settlements etc. Also alliances with African tribal leaders. The brass medallion with the Arabic inscriptions could well have been given to an African ally in their slaving/ivory trade, either as a gift for adornment or a "membership card" in their joint enterprise. Probably the trader kept a stock of these medallions for distribution as felt appropriate. I think it unlikely the axe was the property of an Arab in Zanzibar.

A couple of useful references on this topic are :-

"Armies of the Nineteenth Century : East Africa" by Chris Peers 2003
"African Axes" by Carl Gosta Widstrand

Regards

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

Hi

An interesting African axe and good discussions on its potential origins etc. I would just like to add a few further points for conjecture :-

The axe is a recognised type from Tanzania and down into Mozambique, made by Africans. They were often "badges of office" used by headmen or important personages and carried on the shoulder. The trade brass and copper wire, and brass upholstery nails, were common African adornment used on weapons.

As noted, this area of Eastern Africa was extensively penetrated in the 19th century by Arabs of Omani origin (also Swahili and Baluchi) slavers and ivory traders. They established an extensive network of transportation, settlements etc. Also alliances with African tribal leaders. The brass medallion with the Arabic inscriptions could well have been given to an African ally in their slaving/ivory trade, either as a gift for adornment or a "membership card" in their joint enterprise. Probably the trader kept a stock of these medallions for distribution as felt appropriate. I think it unlikely the axe was the property of an Arab in Zanzibar.

A couple of useful references on this topic are :-

"Armies of the Nineteenth Century : East Africa" by Chris Peers 2003
"African Axes" by Carl Gosta Widstrand

Regards

Hi Colin,

Could you recommend any other good in-print resources for axes/spears
please?

Thanks
Gene

[Dom]

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

his area of Eastern Africa was extensively penetrated in the 19th century by Arabs of Omani origin (also Swahili and Baluchi) slavers and ivory traders.

to the "Gang"
I am surprised that nobody mentions that for a long Zanzibar attracted the greed of merchants Persian, Arabic, Portuguese and British, for its spices;
- clove (whose smuggle collection was convict by death penalty)
- nutmeg
- cinnamon
- ginger
- cardamom

be side to the slaves trade, the Omanis were great traders of spices, and the production of Zanzibar was in addition and in complement of their supplies coming from India
in 18th 19th century, spices was having value as well as it was ... gold,
that explained the Omanis's interest for the 25–50 kilometres (16–31 mi) off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja (the main island, informally referred to as Zanzibar), and Pemba

few references to dates
Zanzibar became a part of the Sultanate of Oman, though as a trade center, it began as an Omani trade station, or outpost, controlled by Omanis in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Britain established a protectorate (1890)

à +

Dom

[Jim McDougall]

Gentlemen, thank you for reiterating these points as mentioned previously in various points of the discussion, and reinforcing the classification of this axe as East African, with possible association to the slave trade commerce.

While the medallion clearly is likely to have been as noted, received in any number of circumstances in these trade routes, it seems likely to be applied as a symbol of wealth or status much as previously noted. The copper wire and brass studs are also adornments used to embellish accordingly and though the wire wrap is well known on the hilts of Arab, Persian and Indian sabres in degree it is unclear if its use through many instances tribally can be connected.

Can anyone think of other instances of decorative chain on these types of axes in Africa? As I mentioned, this is an affectation well known on many sa'if from the Hadhramaut regions and Yemen, which compellingly suggests that it would have been known with trade headed to Zanzibar. From there, again as previously noted, the Omani trade routes into the interior may haved carried the feature into tribal contact in these interactions.

While trade routes moved westerly into Tanzania and Ujiji, the Red Sea trade carried influences reciprocally from Arabia into Ethiopian regions as well. It is interesting to note that many Abyssinian shotel had Maria Theresa thalers hammered into their pommels. Perhaps the use of this medallion was used in the same sense as indication of wealth or power on this axe, and whether a coin or medallion would have been irrelevant, only its appearance.

I would say again here, the repeated reference to Zanzibar here is simply to establish context for the slave trade caravans, which seem likely pertinant to the appearance of certain elements of decoration on this otherwise distinctly African axe form. As far as I can determine there is no suggestion that the axe is Omani, nor from Zanzibar.

[Tim Simmons]

Much further west. Islamic influence city. From "Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika"

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Much further west. Islamic influence city. From "Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika"

Absolutely! The Kanem-Bornu Empire which was later subjugated by the Fulani Jihad was indeed Islamically influenced! Nicely done!

These points were key to the routes headed westward to Mali, and Timbuktu, long the center of Islamic scholarship, trade and culture in North Africa. In other discussions we have noted the similarity of the cylindric hilt sabres of the Manding in Mali to the Omani kattara.Though the direct connection remains unproven, it is another reflection of influences plausibly carried by the trade routes. Excellent example, thank you.

[Jim McDougall]

Crossed posts, thank you so much Stu!!!
Tim shows a great example here, good evidence that these decorative elements seem to have been applied to weapons carried by possibly persons of authority in these caravans. There also seems possibility that such weapons might have been produced for diplomatic purposes for interaction along the routes as perhaps presentation items to tribal chiefs in strategic locations.

Best regards,
Jim

[kahnjar1]

Can anyone think of other instances of decorative chain on these types of axes in Africa? As I mentioned, this is an affectation well known on many sa'if from the Hadhramaut regions and Yemen, which compellingly suggests that it would have been known with trade headed to Zanzibar. From there, again as previously noted, the Omani trade routes into the interior may haved carried the feature into tribal contact in these interactions.

Hi Jim and thanks so much for your forward thinking comments.
There is another axe of similar shape on a certain auction site, (still live, so I can't post a pic). This axe also has a chain attaching ring on the pole, but no chain. Otherwise it is plain apart from what looks like a wrap of silver? on the haft. So it would appear that my axe is not alone in having (at least) an anchor for a chain.
Regards Stuart