Toubou Arm Dagger
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Toubou Arm Dagger
Toubou
French Equatorial Africa (Chad)
First half of the 20th century (ca. 1920 - 1945)
Steel, leather, iron
Blade: 11,4cm
Hilt & Blade: 21,3cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 22,2cm
Collection Date: 2025
Collection Number: 496
Ex. American Art Market (2025)
A classic arm dagger of the nomadic Toubou People of Saharan Chad. These type of daggers are used by both the Teda and Daza groups of the Toubou, and worn hidden under the garb on the arm.
The straight steel blade is double- edged, widened at the base before tapering to a sharp acute point. A medial ridge spans the entire length of the blade. A series of four fine grooves are present along the blade's edge that converge toward the point. The center is engraved with geometric diamond motifs.
The hilt of leather woven strips bound together. The pommel having a triangular iron protrusion. Sheath of red and orange leather. Missing is the leather braided arm loop. As common, the sheath has now shrunk, and the blade resists full insertion. This example is smaller than the average size, likely making it a woman's or child's knife. A very good Toubou arm dagger.
[1] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1987-12-3-a-b
[2] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1980-22-10-a-b
[4] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?tubu-arm-dagger-dagger-37-cm