A selection of Takouba swords from West Africa

A selection of Takouba swords from West Africa.

The Takouba is a straight, double-edged broad sword, on average 74 cm to a meter in length, tapering to a rounded tip, with a short cross guard covered in leather or decorative brass, or other types of metal plates, finished off with a large pommel. Some variety exists in these swords, such as the less common curved Takouba sabres or the extra wide Hausa type Takouba swords. Blades are also sometimes ornamented with Arabic inscriptions.  

These swords were predominantly used by heavy cavalry forces and were one of the most widespread types of swords in use in the Sahara, Sahel and Savannah regions of West Africa. The Takouba is often associated with the Tuareg, but was actually used over a vast area, widely used, not only among the Tuareg, but also among the Hausa, Kanuri, Nupe, Fulbe, Mossi, Yoruba, Lobi, Manding, Mandara peoples, Songhai, Bamileke and many others. 

The origin of the Takouba is obscure with some arguing for an indigenous origin while others pointing to a medieval North African influence. Swords are mentioned in textual records dealing with the region as early as the 10th century, such as the account of al-Warrāq, handed over to us by the 11th century Arab Andalusian historian al-Bakrī, mentioning a sword used during the coronation ceremony of the king of Gao in eastern Mali, not far from the Tuareg country. Remains of a sword (and possibly many more sword fragments) were also found in a 10th century archaeological context at the same location of Gao Ancien (Old Gao). However, we can only guess at the specific type of swords referenced here. Few, if any Takouba swords come from securely dated archaeological contexts, surviving precolonial swords usually having been handed down from generation to generation, with little, if any documentation. Locally manufactured blades, void of identifying marks, are nearly undatable for this reason. 

Takouba swords outfitted with imported European blades, bearing quality marks, or the marks of their maker, were also very popular, and widely used in the region, especially from the 16th century onwards. These blades of a European provenance can sometimes actually be dated through comparison with inventories of European examples with known dates. The oldest known European blade on a Takouba sword is tentatively dated to the mid-14th century, though it’s very difficult to say at what time these older blades first entered the region. A difficulty further compounded by the fact that Takouba swords were often re-hilted, possibly multiple times over the course of their sometimes centuries long lifespan, and even locally manufactured blades often display imitated European style marks further muddying the waters.    

We can say that most of the surviving precolonial Takouba swords however, date to the 18th and 19th centuries, and the manufacture of Takouba swords has continued to this day, still being used for ceremonial purposes and prominently displayed during traditional festivals, as well as being produced for sale as souvenirs.