Armor from Africa?

by Alfheim

Hey Historians. I am interested in information about the armor of Africa, more interested in Sub-Saharan Africa. I have found some stuff from Sudan but very little from anywhere else.

Did anywhere develop similar armor traditions to the West? If no do we know the reasons why? An issue of available and relevant metals?

In areas with armor traditions what made them stand out?

Thanks.

wotan_weevil

Armour was most common where cavalry was extensively used, in the Sahel. The western Sahel saw armour similar to that of Sudan. Further south, there was little use of armour other than shieds.

From Mali to Sudan, fully-armoured cavalry (with armoured horses) often wore quilted armour, both man and horse. The armour was typically cotton stuffed with kapok. Quilted armour like this was effective against most weapons, other than guns:

Armour like this is still worn on ceremonial occasions:

The armours above are cavalry armours - the coats are split in front and back to allow a horse to be ridden. Similar quilted armour was also made for infantry use, without the splits:

Mail was also used across the Sahel:

and was used together with quilted armour:

with the horse wearing quilted armour, the rider mail and quilted gauntlets.

Some plate cuirasses were used in West Africa:

Art from Benin shows armoured soldiers, with helmet and body armour:

but it's hard to tell what it's made from.

Finally, some Igbo woven helmets from Nigeria:

Further reading: Sudanese armour: https://royalarmouries.org/stories/our-collection/sudanese-jibbah/