1914.26.7

Collection type

Object

Description

Wooden sword, inscribed with nsibidi writing. [JC 23 7 1997]

Long description

Wooden sword carved from a single piece of wood with a forked tip. The sword is inscribed with pyroengraved nsibidi writing on one side and a geometric design on the other side. [SM (Verve) 16/03/2015]

Geographical reference

Nigeria

Africa > Western Africa > Nigeria

Southern Nigeria Oban District

Cultural groups

Ejagham

Person

Field collector Percy Amaury Talbot

PRM source Percy Amaury Talbot

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1914

Date collected

By 1914

Acquisition information

Donated: 1914

Materials and processes

Material Wood Plant, Process Carved, Process Inscribed, Process Pyroengraved Pokerwork

Dimensions

Length: max 480 mm, Width: max 94 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1914.26.7

Research and responses

Examined by Dr Ute Roschenthaler of Berlin, 23 July 1997 (see correspondence in RDF). [JC 23 7 1997]

According to Keith Nicklin's entry in the Grove Dictionary of Art Online: 'The Ejagham are often referred to in the literature as 'Ekoi', a derogatory name used by the Efik, that has now largely been abandoned by scholars. The old designation 'Ekoi' is often extended to those of their neighbours - including the Yako and Mbembe to the west, Bokyi to the north, Widekum to the north-east and Bangwa to the east - who have adopted aspects of Ejagham ritual and material culture. The Ejagham are thus not a single 'tribe' or ethno-linguistic group but, rather, a loose confederation or congeries of peoples sharing major cultural features but with distinct socio-political systems.' [for full article see Nicklin, Keith. "Ejagham." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 2 May. 2013. http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T025751. [ZM 02/05/2013]

Search terms: Weapon, Writing, Ritual and Ceremonial, Theatre and Drama, Sword, Ceremonial Object, Inscription