Toubou Sword
Toubou Sword
Toubou - Gouran
Tibesti - Ennedi - Ouddaï Region, French Equatorial Africa (Borkou, Chad)
Early 20th century (ca. 1900 - 1930)
Steel, leather, iron
Blade: 51,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 61,3cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 61,3cm
Collection Date: 2025
Collection Number: 498
Ex. American Art Market (2025)
The classic sword of the nomadic Toubou People of Saharan and Sahelian Chad. Common within the Northern regions within the Tibesti and Ennedi mountian ranges and the Ouddaï highlands. These types of swords are worn slung over the arm while an arm daggers are hidden under the garb.
The long steel double- edged blade spans straight to approximately 3/4 length before tapering to a long, acute point. A thick medial ridge is present the entire length of the blade. A series of four fine grooves appear along the blade's edge that converge toward the point. The center is engraved with geometric triangular motifs until the taper.
The hilt of leather woven strips bound together. The pommel having a triangular iron protrusion. Sheath of leather with a leather carrying strap attached by two bands. A very good Toubou sword, complete with its original sheath and having good age to it.
[1] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=6517
[2] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5949
[4] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?0-goran-sword-76-5-cm
[5] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?goran-sword-with-scabbard-91-7-cm