What is it !!!? Ideas, comments please

[Iain]

It's an arm dagger likely made in Bida by the Nupe. The all brass hilt and scabbard is distinctive.

[kronckew]

nice tuareg telek (arm dagger).

[Tony PP]

Thanks for the replies. I live in Cyprus so objects like this are likely to turn up from time to time. I like it so I will put a bid on it. Thanks Again

[RhysMichael]

Originally Posted by Iain

It's an arm dagger likely made in Bida by the Nupe. The all brass hilt and scabbard is distinctive.

Thanks Iain I tend to lump them as Toureg though I know I should not.Its a bad habit. There are so many groups in that area. I do not know enough to know Taureg from Fulani from Hausa from Nupe et al. So always great to learn more from someone who does know the differences.

[Iain]

Originally Posted by RhysMichael

Thanks Iain I tend to lump them as Toureg though I know I should not.Its a bad habit. There are so many groups in that area. I do not know enough to know Taureg from Fulani from Hausa from Nupe et al. So always great to learn more from someone who does know the differences.

Hi Rhys Michael,

Happy to help out, lumping all western Sahel items under the Tuareg banner is a common issue not helped by the extensive intermingling of these communities.

Thankfully there are a few cases where we can be more sure. This being one of them as there's a direct illustration in "Cultural Areas of Nigeria" by Hambly.