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By: Priscilla Wiredu
Africa is a continent filled with diverse cultures, people, traditions, and different ways of life. Africa embodies a reputation that is known for creating unique weapons during times of war before the colonial era. These weapons were also used for other activities such as grazing, traditional ceremonies, and events of prestige.
There are many distinct kinds of African war weaponry, each with its own story and importance. Human development was said to have peaked with the advancement of tools made in Africa. This article will explore the six most recognized historical African war weapons.
The Senegal Dagger
Dated as far back as the mid-1800s, the Senegal Dagger was created and used predominantly in times of battle in West Africa. These daggers were made from materials such as bone and iron. The blade of the dagger is commonly compared to a Sanduko Y Daga, a Filipino sword.
Modern designs encompass the hilt of the barrel shaped as a Spanish colonial knife. This design included the pommel and stacked disks encompassing the roots of West Africa where the Spanish would often visit.
Mambele
Mambele swords are a category of swords that were used in Northern and Southern Africa dated as far back as the 1800s. These swords were used for war and for hunting purposes to capture food sources.
The sword was made from iron and the design included a sickle-shape with broad blade tip and curved blade for precision and accuracy. The use of a Mambele knife depends on the blade length and curvature. Larger ones were used accompanied with a shield. The way to fight with them required swift footwork and unexpected strikes.
Not very useful against armor, the Mambele were also used as a form of intimidation as opposed to being on the battlefield. Smaller Mambele swords were used for hunting, and as a throwing knife against an animal. The blade allows for it to tear across a hide, and conquer prey easily.
Nimcha
Created around the 17th-18th century, the Nimcha was a weapon used in parts of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. In 1732, it was first used in the battle of Oran, where the Spanish had besieged their land.
As with the Mambele, the Nimcha comes in a variety of different forms and were imported from Europe. The two main forms, however, were either a short, deep curved blade or a longer, slender blade with a clipped point.
Nimcha hilts are displayed forward, ending in a bud-type style. They are designed to have wooden handles which are flat sided and squared off at a 90 degree handle. These weapons served many purposes and were used on land by warriors and on sea by sailors.
The popularity of the Nimcha flourished more at sea, especially in southern Arabia, Yemen, and Zanzibar, where they adopted the design and changed it over time to better suit their needs during battle.
Zanzibari swords were more sharply bent with a finger guard, with a cap on the pommel to secure the blade. Arabian Nimcha were used as gifts rather than weapons.
Kaskara
Believed to have been created around the 16th century, the Kaskara sword is representative of the Western African Savanna front, most notably in places like Chad and the Sudan.
Many modern Kaskara swords are known to have a European influence on them, and are created and sold for profit in different parts of Europe. The Kaskara is often worn horizontally across the back, between the upper arm and thorax.
The blade measures at about a yard long, is double edged, with a spatula-shaped tip. Unfortunately, many Kaskara swords now may not exist without any European labeling or influence upon them.
Many Kaskara today are said to be dated back to the 19th century instead of 400 years earlier, with European designs. Obtaining an authentic fully-African Kaskara is extremely rare in the present times.
Khopesh
Possibly the oldest weapon on this list, the Khopesh traces centuries back to the third millennium BC in Sumer. It was first derived from axes and were made to fight in combat, making it a unique form of specialized ax. Earlier versions of the Khopesh lacked hilt guards, and the weight of the sword guaranteed enhanced efficiency while cutting through dense materials.
A slice from the Khopesh guarantees a slash instead of a deep wound. As the Khopesh evolved, however, garnering an all-metal blade with bronze casting, the cutting power became more aligned and deliberate.
The Khopesh is an important tool of Egyptian history, as it became the typical weapon of choice amongst Ancient Egyptian warriors. It is even believed by historians that the Khopesh was the first curved blade to be used as a war sword.
From 1570 to 1070 BC, the Khopesh became a symbolic and meaningful representation of royalty, power, and status. This began during the Ptolemaic Dynasty up until the fall of the Egyptian Empire by Rome.
Afrakena
The Afrakena sword was, and still is, an important part in the Ashanti People of Ghana’s life. These people use this particular sword for ceremonies and traditions. The Dutch had first sighted the use of the Afrakena in the 17th century, noting it as a viable form of the double-edged sword. A video demonstrates how the sword is created and used in many versatile ways.
The Afrakena was first used in war, and the blade made it one of the most easily recognizable in history. Its blade is curved and broad, with an unsharpened piece at its neck that allows a stronger and powerful grip to guide movements.
The blade is shaped like a spade, one that curves upward toward its tip. Afrakena swords were mostly made out of iron or or imported steel, with flat blades and symbols on them that represented a different virtue. These virtues included spirituality, luck, fortune, and patience. Notably using them in holy and sacred rituals.
The sword’s guard and pommel are shaped like a ball that can be made from wood or gold, used by tribal chiefs or kings. These hilts are seen as a means of protecting its wielder’s hand. The two ball shapes on the handle are symbols in the Ashanti region, used and recognized as protection and security of its handler. These ball shapes are representative of bodyguards called the Afenasoafoo of the Ashanti King.
As stated before, the Akrafena weapons encompassed a lot of uses and meanings. They were used in war and combat, against unarmored opponents and enemy shields. It served as a chopping tool to navigate through thick forests and to defend against enemies in battle.
The Afrakena was also given to those as a status of nobility, offered to the most brave and loyal of the region. Bodyguards of the king as well as high-ranking persons used this sword to make their hierarchical standing well known.
Different forms of the sword can be found in many ceremonies in Ashanti regions, be it traditional dances or mourning ceremonies. The swords were also used for sacrifice and torture among prisoners, an act that has been outlawed in the present times.
Many Ashanti martial artists today use the Akrafena sword as its staple training tool, using over 20 fight positions, movement, and techniques. The Akrafena is popular amongst historical African Martial arts as an exercise.
African weapons offer many uses and cultural roots across the continent. Each region and historical era has its own unique set of swords, making African weaponry one of the most diverse yet underrated weapons in world history.
Priscilla Wiredu is a writer for this year’s Black Voice project. An alumni of York University, she graduated with Honors where she studied Social Sciences. She then went on to get an Ontario Graduate certificate in Creative Writing from the Humber School for Writers, and a college certificate in Legal Office Administration at Seneca College. She is currently studying for the LSAT in hopes of going to law school. Her main goal as a Black Voices writer is to ensure Black issues and Black Pride are enunciated through her works.