Jambia Guide

The name of Abdullah bin Abdullah al-Azayri in Yemen is an immersion in the seductive history of this country, anchored in tradition.

To understand it, one must drift through the alleys of the Old City of Sana’a, which by itself represents a return to a past that evokes an era of caravans, camels, spices and queens of mythical empires.
Through his small, yet thick glasses, al-Azayri explains that he is used to being interviewed. Many international journalists have come to his shop to unmask the mystery of the jambia—pronounced in English “Jam-BEE-ya.”

To the Western eye this concept might be new: the jambia is a curved dagger that serves as the main customary accessory to the clothing worn by Yemeni men. It is worn around the waist, in some cases towards the side. The name derives from this fact; “jamb” means side in Arabic.

Al-Azayri’s shop has remained in the streets of Sana’a since the 12th Century AD. He can recount his ancestors back to that date, noting that the craftsmanship has been inherited from father to son over many generations. Now he owns, apart from the main shop, four others that are charged with repairing and producing the precious object.

The jambia’s origins go back long before al-Azayri family started its business. Tales place the origin of the dagger thousands of years ago, in the era of the biblical Kingdom of Sheba. They claim as evidence that a statue of one of the kings of Sheba, which was discovered by an American expedition in the 1950s, showed the figure of the monarch, King Madi Karb, exhibiting a knife similar to the jambia.

Since the dawn of the dagger, the jambia has revealed essential information about its wearer. It showed the status of the owner, his social prestige and his origin. This has not changed. “This knife represents our pride,” says al-Azayri, “In Yemen people will be more concerned about the type of jambia you are carrying than about the clothes you are wearing.” While chewing qat, al-Azayri does not stop trying to explain the mysteries of his passion. When asked about the kind of jambia he is wearing, he unsheathes his dagger and proudly shows his 150-year-old specimen. Made with the most precious material—rhinoceros horn—the dagger is worth more than $20,000 and is one of the most famous kinds, known as al-Saifani, recognizable by its shiny, dark green color. Al-Azayri’s jambia epitomizes the astonishing beauty of this distinguished variety.

It is said that the most expensive jambia was bought by Sheikh Naji bin Abdul-Aziz al-Sahif, head of the prominent Bakeel tribe. Al-Sahif apparently paid $1 million for the dagger that belonged to Imam Ahmad Hamid al-Din, the leader of the kingdom that disappeared during the revolution of 1962.

Young men usually start wearing their jambias when they turn fourteen, even though a quick walk along the brick streets of Old Sana’a will demonstrate that even small children proudly wear their precious knives, accompanied by the typical Yemeni attire.

These children might not be fully aware of the responsibilities and commitment that are inherent to the bearer of the jambia, but they will become so as they get older. Every Yemeni knows that the dagger should not be used for threatening or injuring people. The breach of this well-known general principle can lead to serious consequences.

In fact, tribal law establishes very harsh punishments for those who transgress the rules of the jambia. If a person grabs his dagger—even without unsheathing it—as a sign of threat, he can be condemned to two months of prison and fined $300; and he may also be required to slaughter a cow and use the meat to feed the poor as an expression of his contition.

“The jambia must not be a sign of fear, but a sign of pride for the one who bears it,” clarifies al-Azayri. “The people of Yemen are lovers of peace and humanity. They are proud of their welcoming nature, their great history, and their great civilization. The jambia represents this Yemen.”

The Chinese Jambia
A curious jambia has hit the souq (market) in the last years with great success; it is the so-called Chinese Jambia, which in fact may be from China or India or Pakistan, a few of the countries which make plastic imitations of the originals.

The numbers sold are not decreasing. This is not surprising since buyers can purchase a fake jambia for a tenth of the price of a real one. Prices usually range between $2 and $15.

“When they first came out, people didn’t know they were fake. Many inexperienced buyers bought, from unscrupulous sellers, what they thought were real jambias for what seemed a very good price. Afterwards, they realized they had been swindled,” says Kamal Abdullah Rubai, owner of a jambia shop in Old Sana’a.

The good times for the cheaters came to an end once the general public became aware of deception. On the other hand, new fake jambia shops have popped up throughout Yemen. Nowadays, over one half of the jambias for sale in the market are imitations, media reports suggests.

A seller, who asked not to be named, says, “There are many poor people in Yemen that can’t afford a prestigious jambia. They then come to my shop and try to get the best fake jambia for a cheap price.”

For the foreigner who would like to bring home a jambia, it should not be very hard to see the difference between the real and the fake ones. The low price and the tacky shop will give the inexperienced purchaser hints to prevent him or her from being bamboozled.

Uses
When Dancing
Yemen has ancient and diverse dance traditions, varying from one community to another, each having its own unique style. Some dances are subdued, and some are dynamic. Some are light and airy, while others involve a lot of hopping about.

The most common dance in Yemen is the Bara’, performed in different ways depending on the tribe. It is characterized by the way they use their jambias, the number of dancers, the steps, and of course, the music. This dance is carried out only by men, and it is meant to be performed outdoors. The reason for dancing may be to celebrate a special occasion or national holiday, to welcome someone, or just for the sake of it.

For instance, near Sana’a, in the northern highlands, a large number of men—up to twenty—dance the Bara’ to the beat of drums. Arranged in a horseshoe, the men watch the leader, usually an accomplished dancer, who stands in the middle and signals a change of step. The men start moving little by little, but the pace soon builds to an intense tempo, with intricate whirling and complicated steps. The jambias are used to “cut the air” and must be carried in the right hand. Only confirmed dancers can perform the dance since a great skill is necessary to synchronize both the legs and the arms to make sure that none of the dancers get hurt.

The foreigner who stays for a while in Yemen will have the opportunity to see this dance with the jambias in any wedding. The ones held in the Old City of Sana’a are especially beautiful: the mix of the traditional dance, the jambia, and the ancient brick homes will captivated the most demanding eye.

In Disputes
The jambia is also used when, between tribes, there is a quarrel over something or someone. When the problem is going to be settled by a sage, the parties will leave their jambias  with a social figure or Shiekh as a guarantee. This act will show the good will of the disputers and their respect and acceptance for the future verdict of the elder.

For Personal Defense

It is legitimate to use the jambia as a weapon only when the bearer is in danger of death or when his physical integrity is compromised.

The Prices
It is impossible to try to established prices for all kinds of jambias. The price of one will depend upon the materials used, the previous owner and its origin. For new jambias the price will range from $10 up to $150. For ancient jambias made with silver the price will start at $200, and can go up to whatever the purchaser is willing to pay.

Structure
Properly speaking, the term jambia only applies to the handle. The other parts have different names in Arabic. Nevertheless people used the word as if the jambia was also the blade and the sheath, excluding the belt. In this article the word jambia has been used in its widely known context.

The jambia has three distinctive parts:
The Handle or hilt (Jambia in Arabic): it determines the value of the jambia. It is usually made of either African rhinoceros horn, ivory, or bull’s horn, the most expensive of which is rhino horn. A single kilo can reach up to $1,500. The hilt takes on a rich luster with age, and its carving is a marvel of craftsmanship. Once carved, the hilts are embellished with silver, and coins are frequently mounted on them.

Between 1969 and 1977 Yemen imported more than 25,000 kilos of rhino horn, official statistics say. As a consequence the animal was on the verge of extinction. The Yemeni government decided to take action on the matter and banned the trade of ivory in 1982. Nevertheless, the law was only enforced after nearly a decade.

Due to the pressure of animal associations, the precious material is obtained now without killing the animals. With just the sedation of the beasts the horn can be taken off without harming the creature.

The Sheath (A’sib in Arabic): In the past, the jambia was sometimes encased in a silver scabbard. Due to the great cost of this, most scabbards are now made from local wood. The craftsman carves two J shapes from wood and then hollows them to fit around the blade. The next step is to bind them together by using strips of goatskin. The dagger in its scabbard is then secured in place with a belt made of leather or finely woven cloth.

The Blade (Nasla): It is usually made from steel brought from Sa’ada or Hadhamaut. Since the jambia is a traditional decoration rather than a functional tool, the blade is usually dull.

The Belt (Hizam): The traditional belt is a thickly embroidered piece that wraps around the waist with the jambia firmly displayed at the front. The belt is typically embellished with gold and silver thread. While the design itself is tribal in style, most belts have a more personalized feel, to fit the owner’s own preference. With the older belts, various metal pieces are attached along the length of the belt, such as a money holder, a case to hold verses from the Quran, and a case for kohl (a kind of makeup) among other things. However, these attached pieces have disappeared.

Types of Jambias
There are mainly five different kinds of jambia. Their design will differ according to their origin and the status of their owner.

Asib: The most common jambia. Worn by many tribes, it is the dagger for both the poor and the rich. The handle is made out of bone or wood. The blade is kept in a particular sheath and secured by a cloth belt. The asib is worn in the middle of the body, a sign of a free tribal warrior. The asib jambias worn by poets are especially beautiful.

Thuma: Only the Qadis (judges) and Sayyids (descendants of the prophet) wear this kind of dagger. They have a slender curve and an ornate silver handle. Thumas are kept in embroidered or carved wooden scabbards.

Djelba: These jambias are worn by people in mountainous areas such as Hajja, Tauila, Ibb or Taiz.

Sabiqi: This is the jambia worn by the people north of Sa’ada, next to the Saudi border.

Ras As-Ikin: Half a decade ago, this jambia was widely worn throughout Yemen. Nowadays few people use it. This dagger is characterised by its small size compared to the others. It is placed behind the “real” jambia.

Bedu: The Bedouin style features a more pronounced curve in the sheath and a smaller, more rounded hilt.

Hadram: From the Hadramowt region, these jambias typically feature amber or ivory handles.