Origin: Tuareg (Mali, Niger)

Local name:
MŻo/A/4020-4021: tarda (Tamashek language)
MŻo/A/4023-4025: allar (Tamashek language)

Dating: 20th century

Dimensions:

MŻo/A/4020: length 82 cm, width 3.7 cm, depth 1.2 cm,
MŻo/A/4021: length 81.6 cm, width 3.8 cm, depth 1.2 cm,
MŻo/A/4023: length (total) 141.3 cm, diameter 1.0 cm, shaft – width 6.1 cm, point – length 42.7 cm, width 3.8 cm,

MŻo/A/4024: length (total) 100.8 cm, diameter 1.0 cm, shaft – width 5.0 cm, point – length 15.0 cm, width 2.3 cm,
MŻo/A/4025/a-b: length (total) 186.5 cm, dia. 1.6 cm, shaft – width 11.3 cm, mainsail – length 64 cm, width 6.0 cm.

Made of: iron, brass, wood

Techniques: blacksmithing

Obtained by:
MŻo/A/4020-4021: Adam Rybiński, antique shop, Chaleix (France), 2018
MŻo/A/4023-4024: Adam Rybiński, art and craft shop, Gao (Mali), 2008
MŻo/A/4025/a-b: Adam Rybiński, antique shop, France, 2010

Description:

The Tuaregs are very warlike people. They fought many wars and often attacked their neighbors, which is why their inventory includes many different types of weapons, which is reflected in the Museum's collection. The weapon was used not only for fighting, but also for hunting.

The presented spears are of two types: tarda type used for hunting and allar type used during fighting. War spears were larger and had wider blades. The characteristic Tuareg spear is made entirely of one piece of iron rod. "Leaf-shaped point, strongly elongated with a clearly distinguished, perpendicular 'comb' - core. (…) A flattened spear with a trapezoidal shape, slightly above its base there is a decorative brass ring in the shape of two truncated cones connected at the bases, on the surface of the spear there are circular cuts repeated in a band pattern” [Łapott 1999: 423].

In the first half of the 20th century, both types of spears were replaced by firearms - the first to purchase them were representatives of the aristocracy who could afford such a large expense.

In the first half of the 20th century, tarda spears were used mainly by slaves who did not have rifles. Before rifles became common, they were the typical hunting weapon of all Tuareg vassals. Spear hunting takes place during the hottest period of the day, when animals hide under rocks and trees, protecting themselves from the scorching sun and flies - then you can sneak very close to the game and catch even the very shy Barbary sheep. When a hunter approaches the hideout of a Barbary sheep, he claps his hands, the frightened animal runs away and is pierced with a spear. A skillful hunter can hunt as many as four or five animals in one day [Nicolaisen 1963: 158].

Bibliography:

Łapott Jacek, 1999, Tuaredzy i ich kultura w zbiorach Muzeum Narodowego w Szczecinie, „Materiały Zachodniopomorskie” v. 44, pp. 387-438.

Nicolaisen Johannes, 1963, Ecology and Culture of the Pastoral Tuareg with Particular Reference to the Tuareg of Ahaggar and Ayr, Copenhagen: The National Museum of Copenhagen.

Rybiński Adam, 1999, Tuaregowie z Sahary, Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Akademickie Dialog.

Rybiński Adam, information provided during interviews (2020-2022).

Edited by Lucjan Buchalik

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The purchase is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sport as part of the National Institute of Museums and Collections' own program "Expansion of museum collections".