[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Pitt Rivers museum at item 1929.12.3 suggests that the Manding Sword with its broad leaf head scabbard which is probably a crocodile head form originated in Sudan with a type of kaskara and further more that it evolved as a non combat mark of a high tribal dignatory and was never a fighting weapon … They claim that the non existant guard is evidence of this. This would indicate that it found its way across the width of Africa on the sub Saharan highway and with various waring factions and trading caravans as well as the obvious reverse movements particularly to hajj by Manding caravans in force. SUDAN TO MANDING country? That's 3000 miles!

The Manding curved with its European blade (French or German) as only a badge of office for Manding men of high standing in their tribal society...they were not weapons. this is further enhanced since the Manding hilt and scabbard are beautifully and expertly fashioned by master leather smiths adding baldric straps with added exuberant detail.

Then came the Europeans blades... then the movement both ways as trade and war moved connected Manding or via factors such as Swahili middlemen and/or Omani slave, ivory, rhino horn and hide dealers the blade then started to attract attention from the Omani side.

These African societies which were both Islamic … Omani and Manding also used an Oral tradition and were both very involved in trade of equal items in huge volume. Their swords were hugely similar and both Omani longhilts and Manding were for swagger not war. The fighting was done by spear and guns mainly> I maintain that the curved was simply put together with the already famous Omani Longhilt from the straight Omani Dancer and with its own scabbard and given the Terrs Shield >>>Associated parts all from the same source; The Omani dancer ...And blade from the Manding Sketches of Omani slave factors on Zanzibar prove the curved was linked to them and the Terrs slung about their shoulders how that was awarded to the curved weapons accoutrements.

Therefor because of Religion, Trade, War and a common tradition in swords used for badges of office and by a parallel involvement in trade for the same commodities and slavery the answer would seem to me to be yes to the original question.

In fact the Omani Curved Sword on its Omani long hilt is still produced today and although not usually danced with like the flexible straight Sayf (THE OMANI DANCER)probably because of safety>>>it does get used in the Funun in neighboring Countries like the UAE.