15 Awesome AFRICAN SWORD Types You Never Knew Existed! (How Many Did You Know?)

scholagladiatoria・2 minutes read

Matt Easton discusses 15 post-medieval African sword types, highlighting unique features and origins, excluding knives and daggers. Resources like Anthony Terry's books and the Historical African Martial Arts Association offer further insight, sponsored by Wondrium, featuring a free trial.

Insights

  • African swords from post-medieval times are diverse and unique, with distinct features like saber blades, lack of handguards, and mythological decorations, showcasing a rich cultural heritage.
  • Resources like books by Anthony Terry and Christopher Spring, along with the Historical African Martial Arts Association, provide valuable insights into African weapons, offering a deeper understanding beyond mainstream discussions.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • What are some significant post-medieval African sword types?

    Matt Easton discusses 15 significant post-medieval African sword types, excluding knives and daggers, focusing on hand-held swords from the 16th century onwards. These swords have unique characteristics and origins across various African regions.

  • Where can I find in-depth knowledge on African weapons?

    Resources like books by Anthony Terry and Christopher Spring, as well as the Historical African Martial Arts Association, offer in-depth knowledge on African weapons. Matt Easton's video, sponsored by Wondrium, also provides educational content on African mythology with a free trial available.

  • What are the key features of the nimcha sword?

    The nimcha sword, originating from Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, features a saber blade, knuckle bow, quillons, and a distinct pommel shape. It is a significant African sword type known for its unique design elements.

  • What distinguishes the flissa sword from other African swords?

    The flissa sword, associated with the Kabyle people in Algeria, lacks a handguard and combines thrusting and cutting capabilities in its blade design. This distinguishes it from other African swords in terms of functionality and cultural significance.

  • What is unique about the Shotel sword from Ethiopia?

    The Shotel sword from Ethiopia is a famous double-edged sword used for striking, piercing, and hooking, featuring a curved design for versatile combat techniques. Its unique design and functionality make it a notable African sword type with historical significance.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Exploring Post-Medieval African Sword Types

  • Matt Easton, an antique weapons dealer and instructor, sheds light on African swords, often overlooked in discussions, focusing on 15 significant post-medieval African sword types.
  • The discussion excludes knives, daggers, and throwing knives, concentrating on hand-held swords from the 16th century onwards.
  • Resources like books by Anthony Terry and Christopher Spring, as well as the Historical African Martial Arts Association, offer in-depth knowledge on African weapons.
  • Matt Easton's video is sponsored by Wondrium, offering a vast array of educational content, including African mythology, with a free trial available.
  • The nimcha, a saber originating from Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, features a saber blade, knuckle bow, quillons, and distinct pommel shape.
  • The flissa, associated with the Kabyle people in Algeria, lacks a handguard, with a blade combining thrusting and cutting capabilities.
  • The takuba, with a rectangular cross guard and conical or flat pommel, is linked to the Tuareg and Hauser peoples in central Sudan.
  • The cascara, resembling medieval Islamic swords, showcases a straight double-edged blade, often European-made, with a unique cross guard and disc-like pommel.
  • The manding sword, found in the Sudan, Chad, and Eritrea, marries imported saber blades with locally crafted hilts and scabbards.
  • The adder or omozo from the Benin Empire features a curved, powerful chopping tip and a confined hilt with a disc-like top and bottom, serving ceremonial and combat purposes.

13:48

African Swords: Unique Designs and Features

  • Various African swords have unique characteristics, such as perforated blades and distinctive hilt designs.
  • The Efraina sword from the Dahome culture features a blade with mythological decorations and a different hilt design resembling European cutlass and saber hilts.
  • The Ngombe sword from Congo has a crescent-shaped blade allowing for various combat techniques like ax-like strikes or sickle-like cuts.
  • The ceremonial version of the Ngombe sword has a symmetrical double crescent blade and engraved decorations depicting cultural stories.
  • The Kuba sword from Southern Zaire is symmetrical with two projecting points and a large crescent tip suitable for piercing or hooking.
  • The Mambele sword from Northern Zaire is a sickle sword with a unique flared tip and a projection above the hilt for guarding or hooking.
  • The Shotel from Ethiopia is a famous double-edged sword used for striking, piercing, and hooking, with a curved design for versatile combat.
  • The Alum short sword used by the Maasai comes in two types: flat blades, often British-made, and traditionally crafted mid-ribbed blades for thrusting.
  • The Gile sword from Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia features angled blades with incised detailing and basic hilt designs, sometimes adorned with exotic materials.
  • The Bellowa sword, resembling a Roman Gladius, has a straight double-edged blade with alloy fittings and a spiky pommel, varying in the number of points.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.