Mixed up sword

Jim McDougall · 28th July 2007, 04:15 PM

I agree with Roanoa, the elements of this sword are takouba with the exception of the Ottoman crossguard, which is decidedly misplaced. The key for such anomolies would be the trade routes that traversed Ethiopian regions to and from the Saharan caravans. This has been discussed of course quite a bit over the years, especially during the 'Zanzibar sword' research. In that case the 'Zanzibar' sword shown in Burton was revealed to actually be a Moroccan form known there as s'boula. What was quite confounding in trying to establish the origins of the weapon here was that in limited instance, examples of these occurred in some Ethiopian armouries. In one obscure monograph on African weapons (cannot recall the title...perhaps Roanoa can..it was about 1956)...one of these is shown along with shotels. It seems that weapons from the far western African regions, even as far as the Maghreb found thier way eastward on the routes, through Ethiopian regions and to the bustling trade center of Zanzibar. The Zanzibar connection also explains in degree certain Omani influences that also occur in weapons as far as Morocco and Mali.

It does seem curious to see a takouba turn up in Ethiopia though. It has always seemed that these, as well as flyssas have somehow resisted the diffusion into the eastern African regions, while they of course are found in expanded regions to the west. The 'kaskara' meanwhile is known not only in Ethiopia, but in Eritrea due to the nomadic movements of Sudanese tribes such as Beja and Hadendoa.

Thank you Michael for posting this most interesting weapon!

All best regards,
Jim

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28th July 2007, 04:15 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,467	I agree with Roanoa, the elements of this sword are takouba with the exception of the Ottoman crossguard, which is decidedly misplaced. The key for such anomolies would be the trade routes that traversed Ethiopian regions to and from the Saharan caravans. This has been discussed of course quite a bit over the years, especially during the 'Zanzibar sword' research. In that case the 'Zanzibar' sword shown in Burton was revealed to actually be a Moroccan form known there as s'boula. What was quite confounding in trying to establish the origins of the weapon here was that in limited instance, examples of these occurred in some Ethiopian armouries. In one obscure monograph on African weapons (cannot recall the title...perhaps Roanoa can..it was about 1956)...one of these is shown along with shotels. It seems that weapons from the far western African regions, even as far as the Maghreb found thier way eastward on the routes, through Ethiopian regions and to the bustling trade center of Zanzibar. The Zanzibar connection also explains in degree certain Omani influences that also occur in weapons as far as Morocco and Mali. It does seem curious to see a takouba turn up in Ethiopia though. It has always seemed that these, as well as flyssas have somehow resisted the diffusion into the eastern African regions, while they of course are found in expanded regions to the west. The 'kaskara' meanwhile is known not only in Ethiopia, but in Eritrea due to the nomadic movements of Sudanese tribes such as Beja and Hadendoa. Thank you Michael for posting this most interesting weapon! All best regards, Jim