Welcome
The Living History of Archery and Horsemanship in Africa
David Wodi Tukura Ph.D
(Founding President of the Horse & Archery Association of Nigeria)
When was
I first interested in archery? It goes so far back in my past I cannot
remember! With roots among the Bassa people of North Central Nigeria,
I guess acquaintance with archery was as natural as a fish getting to
know water! I recall that as a ten year old, we went out shooting with
people who were quite older on the outskirts of Dekina in Kogi State.
Nubian archers during
the eleventh dynasty
My father Chief Daniel Tukura was the Chief Education Officer of the Local Government (what is called municipal councils in some parts of the world). I recall my arrow going farther than that of even the adults in the group! I don’t know if anyone noticed. I did and I never forgot! I also recall having a dream in which I saw a bunch of arrows all made of metal! Now, arrows in Bassa have shafts made out of reeds. Only the arrow heads are made of metal.
But in this dream, shaft, head and all, were metal! I guess I was having a prophetic dream of the Easton aluminum arrows I was to encounter in Canada as a student! What am I saying? Bows and arrows have a place deep in our historical sub-conscious. The question has been asked. Where did it all begin? When was the first bow made? When was the first arrow shot? Only God knows. However, there are diverse cultural responses to this question. The Arabs believe the bow and arrow were revealed to their ancestors in a dream-revelation. Don’t forget Ishmael is described in the Bible as an archer. I don’t know what the Mongols say on the subject.Read more...