Money Sword Currencies
Kirdi, Nigeria
Iron, coins, plastic
1950s - 60s

These intriguing short swords combine handmade iron elements with coins from British West Africa to create objects with tradable value. The piece on the left (with three coils) has 58 coins, and the piece on the right has 68 coins. Those with dates that are visible date from 1919 to 1952. 

The blacksmiths of the so-called Kirdi people of the Mandara mountains of northern Cameroon and eastern Nigeria produced a fascinating variety of knives, among them a dagger with distinctive pommel consisting of two coils. Westerdijk describes that type - which is different yet surely inspired these - as a “luxury dagger” (African Metal Implements, 1983).

The Kirdi people number 80,000, and are primarily farmers who live in small, autonomous hamlets. Their artistic production primarily consists of leather and metal objects as well as small terracotta figures (Bacquart, The Tribal Arts of Africa, 1998).

14.75 in :: 37.5 cm
16 in :: 40.5 cm

InventoryID #13-2669

Price on Request