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Originally Posted by Tim Simmons
If we go back to the 1400s, the European arrival on the west coast could have introduced this form, if we are to think in this way. The Portugese in paticular. Perhaps there is an influence up from the Congo? Perhaps the form was adopted by the Arabs after defeat at the hands of Christian Spain? It could even be a native version before the Muslim city states? The picture Mandra and Shi, how far does this go?
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The appearance of the sword in North Africa has of course history to the Romans and the Vandals, and of course in the 7th century with the expansion of the Muslims from the East. By the 12th century the Almohads empire covered most of the North African regions that now comprise the Maghreb as well as Al Andalus (Moorish Spain). By the 13th century only the Emirate of Granada remained as a Muslim state in Spain, and tribute was paid to Castile by Mali and Burkina Faso kingdoms in gold. By the time of the Nasrids in Al Andalus in the 15th century, the considerable presence of broadswords in North Africa must have been impressive.
Of course the Portuguese had reached inwardly from West Africa in certain degree in the 15th century, and Briggs notes the commercial contacts the Tuareg had with Europeans in Mauretania regions at that time. Other sources noted were from caravans from the northern seaports, especially Tunis and Tripoli but of course other lesser known ports as well. The main center for this traffic in commerce was Timbuktu, and to Jenne and Gao on the Niger.
By the 16th century Gao was a main commercial center for not only European blades, but a blade making center as well. Blades often came in through Tunis and Tripoli as noted, and it is thought that these accounted for many of the Italian blades found in Saharan swords....however the arrival of Spanish blades, while we might presume through Portuguese channels, may have also come from the north, as well as the German blades seen.
In all, the trade blade networks were vast and complex, and we cannot define a singular path of influence for the development of the takouba nor the other edged weapons we have discussed. It should be noted that the influences of Islamic broadswords from East, especially via the Mamluks, cannot be overlooked, and with the influence established, the continuation of this tradition was of course enhanced by the availability of European blades entering these spheres through numerous points of entry.
While the bladesmiths of Toledo were of course renowned, so were the Islamic smiths of Granada....and in earlier times, there was a strong presence of Frankish blades that entered Andalusian regions, where they were held in high esteem. Briggs notes that Lhote believed that the inlaying of makers marks with brass or gold was proof that this was an African trait because it had not been noted by European armourers, yet Briggs notes the many examples including at least 13 in the Wallace collection. As I noted earlier, the Franks used the practice, and the Arab Al Kindi was aware of it noting the Yemeni use of it.