The&nbsp;Ida&nbsp;is a kind of sword used by the&nbsp;Yoruba people&nbsp;of&nbsp;West Africa. It is a long sword with a narrow to wide blade and sheathe. The sword is sharp, and cuts on contact but begins to dull if not sharpened regularly. It can be single-edged or double-edged.
During wars, pepper and poison are added to it to paralyze anyone who is cut by the sword. It can be wielded in any way (either one-handed or two-handed). The Yoruba people use this sword for hunting, war and other uses. The blade of the sword is in an elongated leaf-shaped form. It is designed for cutting and hacking.
Production
The Yoruba blacksmiths were among the most skilled in West Africa. They employed different techniques in the making of these Ida swords. They were involved in the mining and smelting of iron ore before 800&amp;#160;A.D. This style of sword was also sometimes used by other surrounding peoples such as the&nbsp;Bini&nbsp;and the&nbsp;Igbo.