West African dagger

TVV · 31st May 2023, 06:10 AM

Nice dagger, looks like an older example from the first half of the 20th century or even earlier. I have also wondered about the origin of these daggers. The leatherwork on yours looks like the Bamoun example in Quai Branly, and very much like something coming from what is today Northern Cameroon.

But here are my examples, or more modern vintage, with leatherwork that may be found in a wide area of Western Africa. Seems like certain styles traveled far and wide.

On older examples there may be museum records which show where something was collected, but even then it is hard to say with absolute degree of certainty whether it is Hausa, or Fulani (from the Sokoto Caliphate) or Kanuri.

31st May 2023, 06:10 AM	#3
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,666	Nice dagger, looks like an older example from the first half of the 20th century or even earlier. I have also wondered about the origin of these daggers. The leatherwork on yours looks like the Bamoun example in Quai Branly, and very much like something coming from what is today Northern Cameroon. But here are my examples, or more modern vintage, with leatherwork that may be found in a wide area of Western Africa. Seems like certain styles traveled far and wide. On older examples there may be museum records which show where something was collected, but even then it is hard to say with absolute degree of certainty whether it is Hausa, or Fulani (from the Sokoto Caliphate) or Kanuri. Attached Images