Do you know what this is?

[Zan]

Hi,

Radu is perfectly right : it is a typical Dogon knife. This fascinating tribe limited to Mali is one of the only in Western Africa with preserved way of life, traditions and belief. Most still live in simple villages the same way their ancestors do.

Their cosmology and their masks' society is much interesting and known, but there is almost nothing about their edged weapons. I have visited a Dogon museum in Mali where there was a saif and a Manding sword... from their enemys. It is a pacific tribe, wich was looking for unatteinable cliff edges to settle yo avoid conflicts. But they do have some interesting traditionnal utilitarian knifes.

I will soon post two typical Dogon knifes.

Zan

[Zan]

This one was the personal knife of a seller in a small Dogon village. He had not a single knife to sell, so he sold is own.

Mens use to wear at least one of those tiny knifes. Older mens were seen with two or three of them, hanging from a leather bag. Each one has apparently is own utility.

It has the typical red and black triangular patterns on the scabbard, and a very simple double-edged blade (wich is now cleaned, don't worry!).

Zan

[Zan]

This much more bigger knife represents the women's one. The handle depicts a women in the distinctive Dogon's style. The blade is also double-edged and of local origin.

Womens use this kind of knife to prepare food. One night when I was in another village, our pork meat supper has been prepared using a similar knife. It is a very impressive utilitarian knife in the experienced hands

Sincerely,

Zan

[Alan62]

Very Nice Knives Zan
Thank You for the information

[Tim Simmons]

Really nice!!!