Hausa - Marghi Arm Dagger
Hausa - Marghi - Fula - Wodaabe or surrounding neighbors
(Yola) Sokoto Sultanate - Northern Nigeria Protectorate - British Nigeria (Nigeria) - (Rei- Bouba) German Kameroon - British Cameroon (Cameroon)
Early 20th century (ca. 1900 - 1930)
Steel, leather
Blade: 24,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 35,2cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 37,1cm
Collection Date: 2024
Collection Number: 416

Ex. Handbury Tribal Art: Shrewsbury, United Kingdom (2024)

One of many variations of the African arm dagger, this form characteristically of West African style that is generally found around the Hausa populated regions of Northern Nigeria and Cameroon, particularly around Yola.

The straight steel blade is double- edged with a faint medial ridge. Widened at the forte and then gradually tapering to a point. Four shallow fullers follow near the blade's edge. Leather covered hilt with a crescent shaped pommel decorated in linear and triangular designs. Sheath of tooled leather with stamped designs. Attached is a leather arm loop.

Purchased from the U.K., it was likely a colonial pick up from then British Nigeria or British Cameroon in the earlier parts of the 20th century. Many similar examples in the British Musuem are attributed to Northern Nigeria and are from the Hausa, Marghi, or Fula extending into Northern Cameroon.

• https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/27273

• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1996-13-3-a?_gl=1%2a1shcer1%2a_up%2aMQ..%2a_ga%2aMjAyMTc1Mzk1NC4xNzE0MDgyNjI3%2a_ga_08TLB9R8X1%2aMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4xLjAuMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4wLjAuMA..

• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1943-08-5-a-b?_gl=1%2a1shcer1%2a_up%2aMQ..%2a_ga%2aMjAyMTc1Mzk1NC4xNzE0MDgyNjI3%2a_ga_08TLB9R8X1%2aMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4xLjAuMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4wLjAuMA..

• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1932-0608-18-a?_gl=1%2a1qcwe3q%2a_up%2aMQ..%2a_ga%2aMjAyMTc1Mzk1NC4xNzE0MDgyNjI3%2a_ga_08TLB9R8X1%2aMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4xLjAuMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4wLjAuMA..

• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1986-17-60-a?_gl=1%2a1qcwe3q%2a_up%2aMQ..%2a_ga%2aMjAyMTc1Mzk1NC4xNzE0MDgyNjI3%2a_ga_08TLB9R8X1%2aMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4xLjAuMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4wLjAuMA..

• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1932-1021-116-a-b?_gl=1%2a1qcwe3q%2a_up%2aMQ..%2a_ga%2aMjAyMTc1Mzk1NC4xNzE0MDgyNjI3%2a_ga_08TLB9R8X1%2aMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4xLjAuMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4wLjAuMA..

• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1983-11-17-a?_gl=1%2a1shcer1%2a_up%2aMQ..%2a_ga%2aMjAyMTc1Mzk1NC4xNzE0MDgyNjI3%2a_ga_08TLB9R8X1%2aMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4xLjAuMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4wLjAuMA..

• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1943-08-4-a-b?_gl=1%2a1shcer1%2a_up%2aMQ..%2a_ga%2aMjAyMTc1Mzk1NC4xNzE0MDgyNjI3%2a_ga_08TLB9R8X1%2aMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4xLjAuMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4wLjAuMA..

• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1954-23-2641-a-b?_gl=1%2a1shcer1%2a_up%2aMQ..%2a_ga%2aMjAyMTc1Mzk1NC4xNzE0MDgyNjI3%2a_ga_08TLB9R8X1%2aMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4xLjAuMTcxNDA4MjYyNy4wLjAuMA..

• https://african-weapons.com/gallery?hausa-dagger-chad-region-32-cm

• https://african-weapons.com/gallery?hausa-dagger-with-looped-sheath-28-cm

• https://www.ertribal.com/index.php/tribal-art/archive/symmetrical-blades/hausa-arm-dagger-sheath

• https://vikingsword.com/lew/w0048/w0048.html

• https://vikingsword.com/lew/w1070/w1070.html