Shula S'boula/Jiboula

Ian · 8th June 2025, 07:39 PM

Jim and Detlef,

Hans Waelty's book offers some insight into the S'boula/Shula distinction. The online selection has the following map and I reproduce it here under the principle of "fair use" for those who conduct research on these items (as we undoubtedly do on this web site).

Provenances of the Principle Types of Moroccan Knives of the 19th Century

Name: Map of Marocco and edged weapons.png
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Name: Map of Marocco and edged weapons.png
Views: 499
Size: 1.83 MB

M. Waelty distinguishes edged weapons made before the late 19th/early 20th C from those produced later because there was a change in the late 19th/early 20th C when edged weapons (especially koummyas/khanjars) became more hybridized between the north and south of the country. The 19th C north/south differences are illustrated by the different centers of production/use shown on the map.

In the northern areas production and use was mainly in the urban areas adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. These urban areas were cosmopolitan and influenced by the Muslim communities distributed widely in northern Africa, Turkey and Indo-Persia.

In the southern regions, the population was mostly Berbers who followed more of the older spiritual beliefs, and had a form of "folk Islam" that reflected similar blends of Islam with old beliefs that are found elsewhere in the Muslim world. This resulted in a somewhat different form of curved dagger (koummya) from the khanjar in the north. M. Waelty explains this well.

Waelty also shows us that the s'boula and shula were knives from two regions in the north. The shula (which I think is named after a tribal group of the same name) is found in an area in the north-east adjacent to the Mediterranean, while the s'boula is found more to the west and south, mainly along the Atlantic cost in the north. There is some overlap of the two areas in the extreme north of the country.

According to Waelty, the straight-bladed forms are typical of the s'boula, while the shula have curved blades with acute points.

Ian · 8th June 2025, 08:05 PM

Rob,

Coming back to your knife at the start of this thread, I think it might be an example from the area where the s'boula and shula coexist on Waelty's map. In other words, a local hybrid of the two. I think you could call it either a s'boula or a shula or a hybrid of the two, just as we see hybrids of Moroccan koummya/khanjar in the late 19th/20th C.

RobT · 10th June 2025, 03:56 AM

Jim McDougall,
I guess my age is showing.

Ian,
As I wrote on 06/04/25, Waetly's map is why I resurrected this thread. It would seem that the various Moroccan groups like to mix and match blade components. I wouldn't be surprised to find a koummya with a s'boula hilt one day.

Sincerely,
RobT

8th June 2025, 07:39 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,470	Jim and Detlef, Hans Waelty's book offers some insight into the S'boula/Shula distinction. The online selection has the following map and I reproduce it here under the principle of "fair use" for those who conduct research on these items (as we undoubtedly do on this web site). Provenances of the Principle Types of Moroccan Knives of the 19th Century M. Waelty distinguishes edged weapons made before the late 19th/early 20th C from those produced later because there was a change in the late 19th/early 20th C when edged weapons (especially koummyas/khanjars) became more hybridized between the north and south of the country. The 19th C north/south differences are illustrated by the different centers of production/use shown on the map. In the northern areas production and use was mainly in the urban areas adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. These urban areas were cosmopolitan and influenced by the Muslim communities distributed widely in northern Africa, Turkey and Indo-Persia. In the southern regions, the population was mostly Berbers who followed more of the older spiritual beliefs, and had a form of "folk Islam" that reflected similar blends of Islam with old beliefs that are found elsewhere in the Muslim world. This resulted in a somewhat different form of curved dagger (koummya) from the khanjar in the north. M. Waelty explains this well. Waelty also shows us that the s'boula and shula were knives from two regions in the north. The shula (which I think is named after a tribal group of the same name) is found in an area in the north-east adjacent to the Mediterranean, while the s'boula is found more to the west and south, mainly along the Atlantic cost in the north. There is some overlap of the two areas in the extreme north of the country. According to Waelty, the straight-bladed forms are typical of the s'boula, while the shula have curved blades with acute points. Last edited by Ian; 9th June 2025 at 01:28 PM. Reason: spelling

10th June 2025, 03:56 AM	#3
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 566	Je Me Souviens Shirley Ellis Jim McDougall, I guess my age is showing. Ian, As I wrote on 06/04/25, Waetly's map is why I resurrected this thread. It would seem that the various Moroccan groups like to mix and match blade components. I wouldn't be surprised to find a koummya with a s'boula hilt one day. Sincerely, RobT

8th June 2025, 08:05 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,470	Rob, Coming back to your knife at the start of this thread, I think it might be an example from the area where the s'boula and shula coexist on Waelty's map. In other words, a local hybrid of the two. I think you could call it either a s'boula or a shula or a hybrid of the two, just as we see hybrids of Moroccan koummya/khanjar in the late 19th/20th C.