Yemen's prided jambia hits tough times

With rhinoceros horns under a world preservation order, increased use of plastic from China and lack of interest from young men, Yemen's prided "jambia" curved dagger is under threat.

"It will soon be the end of the jambia," bemoans Khaled al-Saikal, an antiques dealer in the souk of the Old City in Sanaa whose windows are brimming with precious and less precious examples.

In the trade for the past 25 years, Saikal says he has overseen the gradual decline of what is widely seen in traditional Yemeni society as "the symbol of the pride of Yemeni men."

Dating back centuries to the pre-Islamic era, as depicted in bas reliefs, the Yemeni dagger is used both for self-defence and in traditional dance, with men waving it over the head as they spin.

"What makes a jambia valuable is the handle, with those made of rhinoceros horn the most precious, and its age," explains Saikal.

Under international pressure due to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Yemen announced last summer that it has slapped a ban on such imports for the past two years.

An old jambia crafted by a top artisan can be worth a fortune.

The official daily Al-Jumhuriya in June put an estimate of one million dollars each on the two jambias owned by the country's most senior tribal chiefs, Sadek al-Ahmar and Naji Shaef.

Their weapons were taken from Imam Yahia, the last sovereign of Yemen when he was overthrown in a republican coup in 1962.

The third most prized jambia in the Arabian peninsula state belongs to President Ali Abdullah Saleh, according to the newspaper, but its origins and value have not been disclosed.

The jambia, worn on an embroidered belt, indicates social rank, profession and tribal origins. It also denotes local origins, with a sharp curve for eastern Yemen but an almost straight blade in the north.

The pointed sheath can indicate whether the bearer belongs to a prestigious family of judges or is a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed.

Poor examples of the jambia fill artisan and repairman Abdel Karim al-Barawi's tiny workshop in the Sanaa souk, where he uses plastic to create the handle.

"Blocks of plastic imported from China started to flood the market a year ago," he said, adding that some of the best models have fetched good prices despite the use of plastic.

"But some local manufacturers were up in arms and, here, imports are banned for the plastic used to carve the handles," he said.

Barawi also said the jambia business was facing tough times, not least because many young Yemenis have not inherited the passion. "You can't wear a jambia over trousers," which have been overtaking the traditional sarong.

Several different crafts depend on the jambia.

The blade is made from an alloy of metals, the belts are expertly embroidered, jewellers design and decorate the handles, while the sheath also has to be carved, sometimes in gold.

In tribal areas, a strict code governs the use of the jambia.

"During a dispute, touching the handle signals bellicose intent, pulling it half out is the equivalent of starting an attack," says Abdul Salam Kehili, an authority on the subject from eastern Yemen.

"Once brandished, blood is spilt and the parties involved have to go before a tribal council which decides on compensation to be paid by the side which is considered to be an aggressor." (AFP)