HELP to identify Nigerian spear blade

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Hello,
Please could you help me to identify this Nigerian spear blade (79 cm) ?
Thanks

[Ian]

Hello ShakaAmaZulu.

Welcome to the Forum!

This is not my area of experience, but someone should be along shortly to help you.

Regards,

Ian.

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Thanks Ian

[Tim Simmons]

I think this is Cameroonian. I have a spear that has the same features. I will add latter. Here.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=22205&highlight=Cameroon

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Hi Tilm,

Thanks for your help.

[colin henshaw]

Hi ShakaAmaZulu, can you please post an image showing the whole piece. Is there only a spear head, or do you have the entire spear ?

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Hi Colin,
I've only the spear head.
Here some more pictures.

[colin henshaw]

Hi Colin,
I've only the spear head.
Here some more pictures.

Thanks. There is an image of a spear with a similar profile (images attached), in the book "Illustrated Catalogue of Ethnographical Specimens" (reprint), described as Indian, Sonthal. However, I see the construction differs to yours, which also has a small hole in the socket for a nail attachment to a wooden shaft. This is an African feature.

So, probably a Nigeria or Cameroon attribution is correct. Sorry not to be of more assistance, it looks a well made piece.

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Hello Colin,

Thanks for your help.

Could it be Edo or Yoruba ?

[colin henshaw]

Could it be Edo or Yoruba ?

I can't really say. The coast of West Africa had contact by European ships early on (15th & 16th centuries), and as far as I know, the inhabitants soon started to use muskets and European type swords and machete weapons. Presumably the Edo and Yoruba used spears prior to that, but I have seen little evidence to refer to.

Your spear could possibly relate to Ogun, the Yoruba "God of Iron" or be a currency spear, but again I can find little direct evidence to support this. Spears with more than one point were often used for magical or religious purposes. There is a monograph by K G Lindblom "Spears and staffs with two or more points in Africa" Stockholm 1937 that may be useful if you can get hold of a copy.

Do you have a reason for thinking your spear could be Edo or Yoruba ? The traditional weapons of the Forest Kingdoms of West Africa is an interesting area, so do post any information/references you have...

Regards.

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Hello Collin,
I've "Spears and staffs with two or more points in Africa" book. The only spear looking like mine is a Tiv one but ...
My only reasons for thinking my spear could be Edo or Yoruba is first my feeling and tis following picture (the spear in the left hand looks like mine). I know it's scarce informations ... :-)

[colin henshaw]

Yes, interesting possibility, so perhaps its an Edo (Kingdom of Benin) piece... If I find any further information I will post it here.

Regards.

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Hello, I find these following pictures from Wien Ethnographic museum.
Does it look like very well with my Nigerian blade spear ?