Sudanese Islamism? tribal trisula?
 

Found this in a local junk shop today. Blade 34cm long, in one picture I have given it a very light cleaning. I read that the trisula is a Buddhist/Hindu origin yet it is found in Islam. Although simple it is rather nice with well thought balance with the forward grip. Very pretty decoration on the bamboo. Could be very effective with a small targe. With luck we might get a good explanation of the trisula and Islamic weapons

I am now thinking of Northern Nigeria and even Islamic Cameroon. The 1906 Sokoto rebellion.

Yes, likely Northern Cameroon or Nigeria, but Animist rather than Islamic ? African spears with more than one point tend to be used in a magical/religious context, such as by a traditional rainmaker, healer or diviner.

Tim,

Very, very nice spear, thank you for sharing.

The decorative motif on the blade is the same as the one on a tebu sword we discussed a month ago:
http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=22101

At the base of your spear there are a couple of human faces if I am not mistaken, and those are very haram. Therefore I am with Colin in believing this to have been an animist, and not a Muslim object. It may have had ritual significance, or it may have been a status symbol based on the high level of workmanship (or both).

Regards,
Teodor

I am not so sure this is not Islamic of some form or other. We see faces on Persian weapons. This piece could be the converted tribal version form the very edge frontier of the Islamic influence?