The Omani Shamshiir.

Jim McDougall · 1st June 2025, 09:10 PM

Mwinyi Mkuu (Muhammed bin Ahmed al Alawi, 1785-1865) was the last of the line of Shaziri rulers in Zanzibar.
Mkuu was a Tanzanian term for hereditary ruler.

The Shazadas were dynastic rulers of Persian origin so this dynasty appears to be from Persian settlers there c. 10th c. +

From the illustration the sword referred to has the familiar peak at the pommel seen on 'Zanzibar' versions of 'nimcha'......however the crossguard is notably that of a Persian shamshir. The shamshir was a prevalent sword form highly favored as a sword of status here much as many other places in the Dar al Islam, so not surprising.

This illustrated example however Im not sure represents a form of nimcha as much as perhaps IMO a notable combination of both Zanzibar nimcha and Persian guard.

1st June 2025, 09:10 PM	#33
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Mwinyi Mkuu (Muhammed bin Ahmed al Alawi, 1785-1865) was the last of the line of Shaziri rulers in Zanzibar. Mkuu was a Tanzanian term for hereditary ruler. The Shazadas were dynastic rulers of Persian origin so this dynasty appears to be from Persian settlers there c. 10th c. + From the illustration the sword referred to has the familiar peak at the pommel seen on 'Zanzibar' versions of 'nimcha'......however the crossguard is notably that of a Persian shamshir. The shamshir was a prevalent sword form highly favored as a sword of status here much as many other places in the Dar al Islam, so not surprising. This illustrated example however Im not sure represents a form of nimcha as much as perhaps IMO a notable combination of both Zanzibar nimcha and Persian guard. Attached Images