Some period photos of African 'knights'

Iain · 22nd October 2011, 02:27 PM

Hi Martin, glad you are also enjoying the photos. :-)

I think your spear butt is probably Bornu (or we can perhaps say Kanuri at least), it looks somewhat similar to the one in the photo. Very nice item! A pity the spear head did not come with it. I am still jealous you get to travel to such places!

I agree the other photo is probably from a Durbar. Durbars are usually held on Eid ul-Fitr and Eid-el Kabir. This year Eid-el Kabir occurs on November 6th. Unfortunately as you noted the security situation is very bad right now. In past years I remember even CNN doing some reports from Durbars... A pity, it is nice to see the riders still keeping the traditions alive - although the costumes now days are a bit more fancy!

22nd October 2011, 02:27 PM	#15
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,682	Hi Martin, glad you are also enjoying the photos. :-) I think your spear butt is probably Bornu (or we can perhaps say Kanuri at least), it looks somewhat similar to the one in the photo. Very nice item! A pity the spear head did not come with it. I am still jealous you get to travel to such places! I agree the other photo is probably from a Durbar. Durbars are usually held on Eid ul-Fitr and Eid-el Kabir. This year Eid-el Kabir occurs on November 6th. Unfortunately as you noted the security situation is very bad right now. In past years I remember even CNN doing some reports from Durbars... A pity, it is nice to see the riders still keeping the traditions alive - although the costumes now days are a bit more fancy!