Lew, I am just thinking aloud. Judging from the pristine nature of the metal and most of all the skin on the handle, this is surely a piece of chiefly regalia or scepter. It might also have been a military commanders baton or something like that. It is wonderful . I do not see it as a Mahdist item, the south Sudan seems good to me. A precise location can be a problem on many African pieces that were often considered inferior or at worst junk and little care was taken with documentation untill the mid 20th cent. Great find. Tim
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