Another Sudanese knife !

[Jim McDougall]

Dom, thank you again for your expertise in the translation on this!! It really helps a lot to know the wording on these, while the symbols offer great field for speculation.

The symbol of the fish is one which does seem to appear on blades of daggers and knives in Sudanese regions well into the 20th century. As with considerable symbolism in the material culture of North Africa, one of the predominant themes are apotropaic and talismanic devices. In 16th c. Tunis, the fish was considered useful in combat against evil spirits. The fish as a talisman is noted prevalent in North Africa, especially in the south ("African Shores of the Meditteranean" C. Grant, L.Grant, 1912, p.477).

The wavy line adjacent to the fish seems to be reflective of symbolism and linear motif used in the pottery and ceramics of Neolithic period in these regions. The 'dotted wavy line' motif is well known in archaeological parlance and its presence here first recognized by A.J.Arkell (" Early Khartoum", London, 1949), as he referenced Mesolithic period in Sudan, with this motif carrying into the Neolithic period.
It is known that the use of these prehistoric motifs often prevail in modern symbolism in these North African cultures.

Often the geometric devices, such as the triangles may be considered embellishment, however it must be remembered that the 'fibula', the triangular device of Berber folk religion is found in motif on the flyssa blade, also an apotropaic against the evil eye.

A great reference for observing the use of symbolism in material culture, in this case jewellery, in North Africa, is "Africa Adorned" by Angela Fisher.
Outstanding perspective.

All best regards,
Jim