CAMEROON AXE, 19th CENTURY

18” length, iron forged in one piece with hook crested axe blade and swelled butt cylindrical haft encased in woven split cane over the cloth. The covering tattered and incomplete. The blade with smooth chocolate brown patina. There is conflicting information on these which were used in the north. Traditionally, they were described as both throwing axes and battle axes. More recently they have been described as “dance axes” absent any details of the dance in which they participated. It is our conclusion that either or both of the first two attributions are correct and that the third is yet another example of changing history to avoid casting third world people in a light offensive to some Western sensitivities. Cameroon was an important part of the Arab slave trade. Ex: Baptist Missionary Society Collection.