New Afar Gile
 

I've just been given this by a friend, who was gifted it in turn by rebels from the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organisation a few months ago. They are based on Ethiopia's border with Eritrea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Se...c_Organisation

It's clearly brand new, but I thought it worth posting it in any case. Please excuse the dog hairs on the carpet, our dog's moulting :o

A NICE EXAMPLE OF TRADITIONAL WORKMANSHIP THEY ARE NOT JUST MADE FOR TOURISTS AS LOCALS MAY CARRY THEM ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS OR FOR CEREMONY TO DENOTE RANK OR STATUS. IT IS LIKELY THOSE STILL INVOLVED IN FIGHTING CARRY ONE AS A TRADITIONAL PART OF THEIR GEAR AND THEY CAN STILL BE USED IF THE GUNS ARE LOST OR OUT OF AMMO. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE I SEE FROM THOSE I SAW IN DJBOUTI IN THE EARLY 1980'S IS THEY HAVE SCRATCHED DESIGNS IN THE TRADITIONAL BLACK FORGING AREA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLADE. THE ONES I SAW WERE UNMARKED BLACK AREAS SO THAT'S A NEW OR PERHAPS REGIONAL OR TRIBAL VARIATION. :cool:

Here a good link with old photos
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=danakil
Best,
Kubur

Mine has a patterned center, I assume it's a recent creation as well. I believe, at least on mine, the pattern is supposed to be a snake.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=gile