Ceremonial Sickle Blade jən'nyi or tochile
Dadiya / Verre (Vere) / Udjila / Tula, Nigeria
Iron, heavy-gauge iron strip
Early 20th century

Ceremonial blades such as this that were based on agricultural tool shapes were used in performances associated with coming-of-age rituals, harvest festivals, and funerals. Events called Kal were held every five years to celebrate the initation of young men who performed with iron sickles. Called jən'nyi, this type is identified by a wide, flat blade covered in chiseled and punched designs with a handle wrapped in an iron strip and furnished with a solid conical cap (Berardi, Standing On Ceremony, 2004; Evers, Christophe, Art of the Upper Benue River, 2003; Roberts, Allen F., Joyce, Tom, and Berns, Marla C., editors. Striking Iron: The Art of African Blacksmiths. 2019; Zirngibl, Manfred A., & Kubetz, Alexander, Panga Na Visu, 2009). 

11.5 in :: 29 cm

InventoryID #13-1112

SOLD