HELP to identify Nigerian spear blade

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Hello,
Please could you help me to identify this Nigerian spear blade (79 cm) ?
Thanks

[Ian]

Hello ShakaAmaZulu.

Welcome to the Forum!

This is not my area of experience, but someone should be along shortly to help you.

Regards,

Ian.

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Thanks Ian

[Tim Simmons]

I think this is Cameroonian. I have a spear that has the same features. I will add latter. Here.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=Cameroon

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Hi Tilm,

Thanks for your help.

[colin henshaw]

Hi ShakaAmaZulu, can you please post an image showing the whole piece. Is there only a spear head, or do you have the entire spear ?

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Hi Colin,
I've only the spear head.
Here some more pictures.

[colin henshaw]

Originally Posted by ShakaAmaZulu

Hi Colin,
I've only the spear head.
Here some more pictures.

Thanks. There is an image of a spear with a similar profile (images attached), in the book "Illustrated Catalogue of Ethnographical Specimens" (reprint), described as Indian, Sonthal. However, I see the construction differs to yours, which also has a small hole in the socket for a nail attachment to a wooden shaft. This is an African feature.

So, probably a Nigeria or Cameroon attribution is correct. Sorry not to be of more assistance, it looks a well made piece.

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Hello Colin,

Thanks for your help.

Could it be Edo or Yoruba ?

[colin henshaw]

Originally Posted by ShakaAmaZulu

Could it be Edo or Yoruba ?

I can't really say. The coast of West Africa had contact by European ships early on (15th & 16th centuries), and as far as I know, the inhabitants soon started to use muskets and European type swords and machete weapons. Presumably the Edo and Yoruba used spears prior to that, but I have seen little evidence to refer to.

Your spear could possibly relate to Ogun, the Yoruba "God of Iron" or be a currency spear, but again I can find little direct evidence to support this. Spears with more than one point were often used for magical or religious purposes. There is a monograph by K G Lindblom "Spears and staffs with two or more points in Africa" Stockholm 1937 that may be useful if you can get hold of a copy.

Do you have a reason for thinking your spear could be Edo or Yoruba ? The traditional weapons of the Forest Kingdoms of West Africa is an interesting area, so do post any information/references you have...

Regards.

[colin henshaw]

Yes, interesting possibility, so perhaps its an Edo (Kingdom of Benin) piece... If I find any further information I will post it here.

Regards.

[ShakaAmaZulu]

Hello, I find these following pictures from Wien Ethnographic museum.
Does it look like very well with my Nigerian blade spear ?