Cameroon lance head

Iain · 12th April 2012, 04:34 PM

Hi Gav,

I have often seen Hausa and Fulani with military sabres, I presume French and perhaps in the case of Cameroon German in origin. I've even seen a small sword carried by one fellow!

This is not really a case of abandoning traditional forms I think, in some of the regalia in the Hausa emirates there are foreign blades. If memory serves me correctly some Ottoman or Arab. So it's certainly not an exclusively new thing.

Since there never seemed to have been qualms in hilting up quality European blades it doesn't surprise me that if a good brass hilt happened along it would be put to good use.

Cheers,

Iain

EDIT: found a couple of the photos I meant:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8107676...n/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20086368@N06/2063180329/

Tim Simmons · 16th April 2012, 07:55 PM

I have been meaning to add this. I believe it comes from the border regions of Nigeria/Cameroon. 150cm long. The snake skin pattern engraving covers the whole thing. I have rather lost interest in collecting some African bits but I like this. I realise it will have limited appeal but how many others have you seen? Especially when you think about the millions of Congo bits that are about and priced as if they were rare.

Iain · 17th April 2012, 12:17 PM

An interesting item Tim. Can't recall having seen anything similar but my memory is poor and my experience with spears rather lacking.

The style of the work could certainly fit the region.

The construction makes me think perhaps a staff of office?

Martin Lubojacky · 17th April 2012, 09:48 PM

This is another interesting spearhead. The length is 95 cms, maximal width of the blade is 4.3 cms, inner diameter of the sleeve is only 2 cms. The bulbous part is made of bronze, the blade is steel. It should be Cameroon, but I am not sure about more detailed location. My idea is the engravings on the blade are Touareg - like, the bronze part is like from Vere or Mambila region (?; strange mixture). Curator of African collection in Naprstek Museum in Prague is of the opinion this comes from grassland (?)
Regards,
Martin

Martin Lubojacky · 17th April 2012, 09:54 PM

one picture more

Iain · 17th April 2012, 11:18 PM

Very interesting Martin. The pattern in the bronze certainly appears on Vere daggers but I have also seen it on other groups as well. Thanks for sharing.

Iain · 31st December 2013, 11:01 PM

Hi Martin,

To bring this old thread back to life, I received today this lance head which is like the one you showed. Only mine is smaller at 67cm.

Blade design is similar, interestingly mine has a little leather scabbard, not a feature I saw before.

16th April 2012, 07:55 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	I have been meaning to add this. I believe it comes from the border regions of Nigeria/Cameroon. 150cm long. The snake skin pattern engraving covers the whole thing. I have rather lost interest in collecting some African bits but I like this. I realise it will have limited appeal but how many others have you seen? Especially when you think about the millions of Congo bits that are about and priced as if they were rare. Attached Images

17th April 2012, 09:48 PM	#4
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 845	This is another interesting spearhead. The length is 95 cms, maximal width of the blade is 4.3 cms, inner diameter of the sleeve is only 2 cms. The bulbous part is made of bronze, the blade is steel. It should be Cameroon, but I am not sure about more detailed location. My idea is the engravings on the blade are Touareg - like, the bronze part is like from Vere or Mambila region (?; strange mixture). Curator of African collection in Naprstek Museum in Prague is of the opinion this comes from grassland (?) Regards, Martin Attached Images

17th April 2012, 09:54 PM	#5
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 845	one picture more Attached Images

31st December 2013, 11:01 PM	#7
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	Hi Martin, To bring this old thread back to life, I received today this lance head which is like the one you showed. Only mine is smaller at 67cm. Blade design is similar, interestingly mine has a little leather scabbard, not a feature I saw before. Attached Images

12th April 2012, 04:34 PM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	Hi Gav, I have often seen Hausa and Fulani with military sabres, I presume French and perhaps in the case of Cameroon German in origin. I've even seen a small sword carried by one fellow! This is not really a case of abandoning traditional forms I think, in some of the regalia in the Hausa emirates there are foreign blades. If memory serves me correctly some Ottoman or Arab. So it's certainly not an exclusively new thing. Since there never seemed to have been qualms in hilting up quality European blades it doesn't surprise me that if a good brass hilt happened along it would be put to good use. Cheers, Iain EDIT: found a couple of the photos I meant: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8107676...n/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/20086368@N06/2063180329/

17th April 2012, 12:17 PM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	An interesting item Tim. Can't recall having seen anything similar but my memory is poor and my experience with spears rather lacking. The style of the work could certainly fit the region. The construction makes me think perhaps a staff of office?

17th April 2012, 11:18 PM	#6
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	Very interesting Martin. The pattern in the bronze certainly appears on Vere daggers but I have also seen it on other groups as well. Thanks for sharing.