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Old 24th July 2006, 08:45 PM   #1
Tim Simmons
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
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Default Tanzanian swagger/fighting stick?

For all stick fighting fans, I know you are out there. I got this some years ago and put it away rather dismissively but this evening it reappeared and I see it in a new light. This is 31" long in total just too short to be a proper walking stick, that too can be used to fight with. Tanzania is one of the places in the world from where some of the finest turquoise comes. Jean-Baptiste Bacquart in his book "The Tribal Arts of Africa" mentions swagger sticks from East Africa but I think they are also fighting sticks. You can see from the pictures, the stick has not been in contact with the ground. I suspect in general the carved section is the handle but the deft of hand may be able to use each end depending on the weight of the situation. 20th century, nice Babylon!!!
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