Period Photos of People with Ethnographic Arms

[Iain]

Where: Ngaoundéré, Adamawa region, North Cameroon
When: unknown, early 20th century?
Who: Fulani cavalry and foot soldiers
Weapons visible: Spears, shields, takouba, I think some muskets as well
Source if known: French postcard

This is a particularly interesting photo to me as seeing images with shields is fairly rare. I think I spot a Sudanese style round shield down at the far end of the foot soldier line.

[Iain]

Where: Dar Sila wandering sultanate (Chad)
When: unknown, early 20th century?
Who: Dar Sila Daju
Weapons visible: Kaskara
Source if known: "Dadjo Warrior Dahab, son of sultan Bakhit (Dar Sila)". From L'Afrique Équatoriale Française: le pays, les habitants, la colonisation, les pouvoirs publics. Préf. de M. Merlin.(published 1918)

Very interesting photo from a little known group. Article on wikipedia.


There is a kaskara visible but also some sort of Arab looking saif with a very odd pommel that almost looks Tebu style.

[Iain]

Where: South Sulawesi, Indonesia
When: 1920s
Who: Toraja
Weapons visible: Spear, shield
Source if known: Old dutch photo?

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Iain

Source if known: Old dutch photo?

Probably, as it's Dutch text.

[Sajen]

Yes, text mean Toraja as headhunter.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Yes, text mean Toraja as headhunter.

Yep that's a correct translation!

PS I like the shield. Very rare.
Here two pieces which are in the collection of the volkenkundig museum Leiden.

[Sajen]

Rare and nice, would like to have one in my collection!