Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - The Manding sword, the Tuareg aljuinar and Omani curved kattara: Are they connected?

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 7th April 2019, 10:17 PM

Reference;
A. http://takouba.org/catalog/index.php/what-is-a-takouba

The question is still only about two thirds answered since no mention of the Tuaregs. Therefor ~ if as has been accepted on the thread there was indeed a cultural understanding between Mande and Sudanic regions via trade religion and war... what was the relationship with the other important part of the question at #1 >>>>The part about Tuaregs? From atkinsons-swords I include viz;

Quote"The Tuareg hang sheathed swords from their shoulders or wear them low at their hips. This leather and metal scabbard is decorated with cutwork and stamped, pierced and engraved designs. The takuba has been adopted for wear by prosperous men of numerous ethnic groups in Sudanic Africa. The smiths, “Ineden”, who make and mount these swords are predominantly of Negroid Sudanic African ancestry, and form a separate caste which has its own secret language “ténet”. Members of the blacksmith caste do not intermarry with the Tuaregs and are often regarded as possessing dark mystic powers".Unquote.

Paragraph 4 of reference poses a question of how much was this sword a weapon and how much was it for prestige and show? Is it related to the MENDING sword?

7th April 2019, 10:17 PM	#39
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Reference; A. http://takouba.org/catalog/index.php/what-is-a-takouba The question is still only about two thirds answered since no mention of the Tuaregs. Therefor ~ if as has been accepted on the thread there was indeed a cultural understanding between Mande and Sudanic regions via trade religion and war... what was the relationship with the other important part of the question at #1 >>>>The part about Tuaregs? From atkinsons-swords I include viz; Quote"The Tuareg hang sheathed swords from their shoulders or wear them low at their hips. This leather and metal scabbard is decorated with cutwork and stamped, pierced and engraved designs. The takuba has been adopted for wear by prosperous men of numerous ethnic groups in Sudanic Africa. The smiths, “Ineden”, who make and mount these swords are predominantly of Negroid Sudanic African ancestry, and form a separate caste which has its own secret language “ténet”. Members of the blacksmith caste do not intermarry with the Tuaregs and are often regarded as possessing dark mystic powers".Unquote. Paragraph 4 of reference poses a question of how much was this sword a weapon and how much was it for prestige and show? Is it related to the MENDING sword? Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 7th April 2019 at 10:32 PM.