Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 5th October 2008, 04:00 AM

Hi Fernando,
The 'takouba' is the fascinating broadsword of the fabled Tuareg warriors, Ihaggaren, of the Sahara, and the history of these swords is as mysterious as these warriors themselves.

Yours is a sound example, and clearly in 20th century mounts, while the native blade may be latter 19th century. The treble fullers central to the blade recall European blades that have come into these regions over the centuries, as do the degenerated, stamped crescent moons. These are apparantly common in the Eastern Sudan with Hausa type swords and termed locally 'dukari' (Briggs, p.58).* These 'dukari' twin half moons have become virtually standard on takouba blades across the Sahara, and obviously the style has transmitted via nomadic movement, tribal interaction and trade.The moons themselves are copied from these markings on a number of European blades traded to these regions.

According to information found in Dr.Lloyd Cabot Briggs "European Blades In Tuareg Blades and Daggers" (Journal of the Arms & Armour Society, Vol.V, #2,1965 ) it would seem that stylistically your example is likely of 'Central' form which would comprise roughly Ajjar,Ahaggar and often the Air region.
I know that this is not precise, but these are nomadic tribes, and it would be virtually impossible to gain specific provenance unless obtained and documented from a tribesman on location.

While tribal warriors still wear thier takoubas as a matter of traditional costume, they are of course armed with modern weapons (as can be well described by Lee Jones

.

One thing I would like to bring up as a case in point. Over many years, I have tried to find the source for the term takouba, which of course included in the Tuareg vocabulary. It seems that the Portuguese were likely the earliest purveyors of European blades to the Tuareg tribes of the Sahara, and the influence for the broadswords may derive from the Almoravides of Spain as early as the 11th c. These early connections of course are broadly applied, but the Iberian note is key in my opinion.

In Mexico City in 16th century New Spain, the Moorish custom of grouping craftsmen of similar work in the same area, and for the metalworkers, including those who fashioned weapons and blades, there was a thouroughfare known as the CALLE DE TACUBA. In time, metalwork from there became known as 'de tacuba'.
While this is clearly an entirely separate region, I would like to know if there is any possibility that the application of this Spanish name or term might have been grafted into Tuareg parlance with traders supplying blades into Morocco.
Just a thought

All the best,
Jim

5th October 2008, 04:00 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Hi Fernando, The 'takouba' is the fascinating broadsword of the fabled Tuareg warriors, Ihaggaren, of the Sahara, and the history of these swords is as mysterious as these warriors themselves. Yours is a sound example, and clearly in 20th century mounts, while the native blade may be latter 19th century. The treble fullers central to the blade recall European blades that have come into these regions over the centuries, as do the degenerated, stamped crescent moons. These are apparantly common in the Eastern Sudan with Hausa type swords and termed locally 'dukari' (Briggs, p.58).* These 'dukari' twin half moons have become virtually standard on takouba blades across the Sahara, and obviously the style has transmitted via nomadic movement, tribal interaction and trade.The moons themselves are copied from these markings on a number of European blades traded to these regions. According to information found in Dr.Lloyd Cabot Briggs "European Blades In Tuareg Blades and Daggers" (Journal of the Arms & Armour Society, Vol.V, #2,1965 ) it would seem that stylistically your example is likely of 'Central' form which would comprise roughly Ajjar,Ahaggar and often the Air region. I know that this is not precise, but these are nomadic tribes, and it would be virtually impossible to gain specific provenance unless obtained and documented from a tribesman on location. While tribal warriors still wear thier takoubas as a matter of traditional costume, they are of course armed with modern weapons (as can be well described by Lee Jones. One thing I would like to bring up as a case in point. Over many years, I have tried to find the source for the term takouba, which of course included in the Tuareg vocabulary. It seems that the Portuguese were likely the earliest purveyors of European blades to the Tuareg tribes of the Sahara, and the influence for the broadswords may derive from the Almoravides of Spain as early as the 11th c. These early connections of course are broadly applied, but the Iberian note is key in my opinion. In Mexico City in 16th century New Spain, the Moorish custom of grouping craftsmen of similar work in the same area, and for the metalworkers, including those who fashioned weapons and blades, there was a thouroughfare known as the CALLE DE TACUBA. In time, metalwork from there became known as 'de tacuba'. While this is clearly an entirely separate region, I would like to know if there is any possibility that the application of this Spanish name or term might have been grafted into Tuareg parlance with traders supplying blades into Morocco. Just a thought All the best, Jim