Sudanese Haladie?

Tim Simmons · 3rd February 2008, 03:54 PM

I was so brief in the last post I feel I should add a little more about the script and origins of the sword in the photograph. There are notions of Medieval origins which hinder us today. A look through any of Oakeshott's publications should put an end to that. The sword is not Medieval. It is thought that the script is too inaccurate to have origins in an Egyptian workshop also it is held to predate the armoury at Omdurman. The origin is thought to be somewhere in Nilotic Sudan.
I am not a qualified historian or researcher so I could be talking from a hole in my backside. However I do think it is not unreasonable to face convention full on. You only have to think of the sack of Benin city 1897? and the refusal in believing that the art works there were locally made and of indigenous thought. The sword mentioned and other works may well be slowly emerging from this type of learned discrimination and we as collectors are often all too eager to accept this condition. One of the problems with this material, which affects opinion so much is that it is simple, not shiny, silvery and covered in glittering baubles. So untill quite recently its market value held back any further thought and care of investigation. I know I use strong words but it is fun. I simply cannot accept that cities like Kano in such an expansive land did not make weapons.

Jim McDougall · 4th February 2008, 12:44 AM

Hi Tim,
Thank you for elaborating in more detail on the swords and weapons of these regions, and for your well placed line of thinking. It is interesting that it is often considered that the familiar 'thuluth' script seen on weapons is a distinct indicator that the weapon is Sudanese. As can clearly be seen, the takouba shown as from the regalia of the Daura emirate in Nigeria is profusely etched with this script. It is unclear if the blade is one of the countless trade blades that have been mounted in these swords, or if it is native forged, but it does seem quite possible to have been decorated in Nigeria.

The thuluth script is of course derived from Kufic, the early script used to transcribe passages from the Qur'an, and was often used to apply such inscriptions as motif on many items of material culture. The Sudan and Nigeria were key regions of Islamic presence in North Africa and the use of this very beautiful calligraphy was in use from early times with Mamluk armourers, and thier decorative work certainly imitated in varying degree.

I agree that it seems almost preposterous to presume that with the importance of the Emirates of Nigeria, and the constant trade across the Sahara, that these more remote places did not have the presence of culture and artisans comparable to the larger and more well known centers. It is now well established that Timbuktu, often jokingly used to describe the most remote desert emptiness, was actually a well travelled site for caravans and actually an almost 'Oxford' like center for Islamic scholars. There are huge libraries of lexicons of important works held there, and the city often portrayed as a mud daubed spot in the desert is now regarded as having been a very important center of medieval scholarship.

Along with the constant movement of the caravans moved not only trade and wares, but scholars, artisans and the diffusion of art, and philosophy.

In "Nigerian Panoply", I believe there is another sword shown by Bivar, which has a name beginning with a 'G', and like the one shown here, is considered an important item of regalia. I'm running on memory here as I do not have by copy at hand, so I hope you might check this. It seems like the sword I refer to appears to be a European hanger or sabre, but as noted, is highly revered as a 'sword of state' or of that stature.

It would seem that the sword, as a weapon, was reverently regarded in Nigeria and in the case of the Hausa state of Zaria for example, the name derives from a famous sword named 'Zazzau'. These Hausa people (though the Fulani conquered in 1804) are called 'Zage Zage'.I am under the impression that the Hausas had swordsmiths, and if I am not mistaken are known among Tuareg swordsmiths, with certain examples of Sudanese kaskara attributed to the Hausa (see Briggs). The city of Kano was known for its ironwork as early as the 7th century.

It does indeed seem quite possible that weapons were made in Kano.

All best regards,
Jim

3rd February 2008, 03:54 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,854	Sword of Bayajidda' at Daura I was so brief in the last post I feel I should add a little more about the script and origins of the sword in the photograph. There are notions of Medieval origins which hinder us today. A look through any of Oakeshott's publications should put an end to that. The sword is not Medieval. It is thought that the script is too inaccurate to have origins in an Egyptian workshop also it is held to predate the armoury at Omdurman. The origin is thought to be somewhere in Nilotic Sudan. I am not a qualified historian or researcher so I could be talking from a hole in my backside. However I do think it is not unreasonable to face convention full on. You only have to think of the sack of Benin city 1897? and the refusal in believing that the art works there were locally made and of indigenous thought. The sword mentioned and other works may well be slowly emerging from this type of learned discrimination and we as collectors are often all too eager to accept this condition. One of the problems with this material, which affects opinion so much is that it is simple, not shiny, silvery and covered in glittering baubles. So untill quite recently its market value held back any further thought and care of investigation. I know I use strong words but it is fun. I simply cannot accept that cities like Kano in such an expansive land did not make weapons. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 3rd February 2008 at 06:01 PM. Reason: smoothing out a lump

4th February 2008, 12:44 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Hi Tim, Thank you for elaborating in more detail on the swords and weapons of these regions, and for your well placed line of thinking. It is interesting that it is often considered that the familiar 'thuluth' script seen on weapons is a distinct indicator that the weapon is Sudanese. As can clearly be seen, the takouba shown as from the regalia of the Daura emirate in Nigeria is profusely etched with this script. It is unclear if the blade is one of the countless trade blades that have been mounted in these swords, or if it is native forged, but it does seem quite possible to have been decorated in Nigeria. The thuluth script is of course derived from Kufic, the early script used to transcribe passages from the Qur'an, and was often used to apply such inscriptions as motif on many items of material culture. The Sudan and Nigeria were key regions of Islamic presence in North Africa and the use of this very beautiful calligraphy was in use from early times with Mamluk armourers, and thier decorative work certainly imitated in varying degree. I agree that it seems almost preposterous to presume that with the importance of the Emirates of Nigeria, and the constant trade across the Sahara, that these more remote places did not have the presence of culture and artisans comparable to the larger and more well known centers. It is now well established that Timbuktu, often jokingly used to describe the most remote desert emptiness, was actually a well travelled site for caravans and actually an almost 'Oxford' like center for Islamic scholars. There are huge libraries of lexicons of important works held there, and the city often portrayed as a mud daubed spot in the desert is now regarded as having been a very important center of medieval scholarship. Along with the constant movement of the caravans moved not only trade and wares, but scholars, artisans and the diffusion of art, and philosophy. In "Nigerian Panoply", I believe there is another sword shown by Bivar, which has a name beginning with a 'G', and like the one shown here, is considered an important item of regalia. I'm running on memory here as I do not have by copy at hand, so I hope you might check this. It seems like the sword I refer to appears to be a European hanger or sabre, but as noted, is highly revered as a 'sword of state' or of that stature. It would seem that the sword, as a weapon, was reverently regarded in Nigeria and in the case of the Hausa state of Zaria for example, the name derives from a famous sword named 'Zazzau'. These Hausa people (though the Fulani conquered in 1804) are called 'Zage Zage'.I am under the impression that the Hausas had swordsmiths, and if I am not mistaken are known among Tuareg swordsmiths, with certain examples of Sudanese kaskara attributed to the Hausa (see Briggs). The city of Kano was known for its ironwork as early as the 7th century. It does indeed seem quite possible that weapons were made in Kano. All best regards, Jim Last edited by Jim McDougall; 4th February 2008 at 12:55 AM.