Peculiar question - alias problem with chameleon´s tail

[Martin Lubojacky]

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]

Hi Martin,

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

Best,
Kubur

[Roland_M]

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]

Thank you Roland and Kubur

(just two photos from the nature)

[Tim Simmons]

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]

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]

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 ...