Tuareg Takuba Sword
The takuba is the straight-bladed sword of the Tuareg of the Sahara and Sahel, a double-edged blade of about a metre with a deep crossguard and a flat metal pommel. Because Tuareg custom regards iron as unclean, the guard and grip are covered with tooled leather, and the scabbard is worked with stamped and pierced designs that reflect the wealth and rank of its owner. Swords were made and mounted by the inadan (blacksmith) caste, who spoke their own secret language and were credited with magical power over metal. Given to a young man as he came of age, the takuba marked nobility and courage, a