Ida (sword)
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| Ida | |
|---|---|
| Type | Sword |
| Place of origin | Nigeria |
The Ida is a kind of sword used by the Yoruba people of West Africa.[1][2]
It is a long sword with a narrow to wide blade and sheathe. The sword is sharp, and cuts on contact but typically begins to dull if not sharpened regularly. It can be single-edged or double-edged. These blades are typically heavier by the tip of the blade.
During wars, pepper and poison are added to it to paralyze anyone who is cut by the sword.[citation needed] It can be wielded in any way (either one-handed or two-handed). The Yoruba people use this sword for hunting, war and other uses. The blade of the sword is in an elongated leaf-shaped form. It is designed for cutting and hacking.
Production[edit]
The Yoruba blacksmiths were among the most skilled in West Africa.[citation needed] They employed different techniques in the making of these Ida swords. They were involved in the mining and smelting of iron ore before 800 A.D.[3] This style of sword was also sometimes used by other surrounding peoples such as the Bini and the Igbo.
Variations[edit]
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There were many other variations of the Idà. The Yoruba also used many other bladed-weapons.
Some of them were;
- Àdá — Used for clearing brush, fighting, or hunting. It is similar to a cutlass or machete. Rock carvings in Ife show that this sword has been used in Yorubaland since at least the 14th century.[citation needed]
- Ọ̀bẹ — Daggers carried by the Yoruba soldiers.
- Agẹ̀dẹ̀ngbẹ — Single-bladed and eccentrically curved. Also quite heavy.
- Tanmogayi — Similar to the sabre.
- Abara — A similar double-edged sword to the Idà, used by the Ika people of Delta state, Nigeria.
- Asara — Also used by the Ika people, it is similar to the Ada.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ bp. Sammuel Adjai Crowther (1843). Vocabulary of the Benin Language: Part I. English and Benin. Part II. Yoruba and English. To which are Prefixed, the Grammatical Elements of the Yoruba Language. Oxford University (Church missionary society). p. 107.
- ^ Suzanne Preston Blier (2015). Art and Risk in Ancient Yoruba: Ife History, Power, and Identity, ca. 1300. Cambridge University Press. p. 415. ISBN 978-1-107-0216-62.
- ^ "Ida Sword: The Leaf-Shaped African Sword". 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
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