Galerie Ezakwantu

African Art       Franschhoek South Africa       Tribal Art

 

 

Central and Southern African Tribal Art

 

 

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African Adornment

Axes

Basketry

Beadwork

Beer Cups

Beer Pots

Colonial

Containers

Contemporary

Currency

Dolls

Figures-Statues

Hair Combs

Headdresses - Wigs

Headrests - Neck Rests

Imbenge Pot Covers

Masks - Masques

Meat Platters

Milk Pail

Miscellaneous

Musical Instruments

Pipes

Shields

Snuff  Spoons

S - Bottles

Spoons - Ladles

Staffs

Status Objects

Stools - Thrones

Tobacco Bags

Weapons - Congo

Weapons SA

Weapons

 

 

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African Currencies - Currency

 

 

Contact us for information on these objects, larger resolution pictures and/or prices.

 

 

 

 

Shell Currency

 

Ndoro - Mpande - Monne - Omba - Imba

 

 

 

The Ila-Speaking Peoples of Northern Rhodesia Volume I - Page 111 - Chief Shaloba

 

 

 

Offered by Galerie Ezakwantu

 

Shell disks obtained from the genus Conus Virgo or the Calcareous Operculum such as Conus Turbo were considered currency and traded in much of Central Africa and portions of Southern Africa. Their usage predates the arrival of Portuguese in the 15th century. Men, women, young and old, all considered these articles prize possessions. They were traded for gold, ivory, slaves, fabric, guns, gunpowder, etc. Chiefs and headmen are known to have worn many. They signified wealth, rank and authorative power.

 

Click Thumbnails for Larger Images

 

 

Depending on where you were, the shell disks might be called Ndoro, Mpande, Monne, Omba and Imba. Remnants of the shell trade reveal that the Congo and Zambezi rivers served as "hiways of trade" running inland from the coast. Along these routes the Portuguese introduced porcelain examples. In that Europe "and Portugal in particular",  had yet to produce porcelain, the bulk of reproductions were manufactured in Portuguese Macau.

 

      

 

The example on the left was collected in Namibia and the right, Western Zambia.

 

In Southern Angola and Namibia, tribes added lead to the shells center, so that a small hole could be made into the lead itself for attachment. The idea was copied from their method of attaching ivory Ekipa's to leather thongs. As soon as you travel north or east "away from the Ekipa region", attachment was made by inserting fiber, leather, brass or copper wire through a centre hole. Many examples uncovered today are easily centuries old.

 

Perhaps the earliest reference to the shell currencies are found in the journals of a 16th century Portuguese chronicler who observed that; 'the Monomatapa and the Mocarangas (Karanga) and their vassals wear on their foreheads a white shell, as a jewel, strung from the hair, and the Monomatapa wears another large shell on his chest. They call these shells andoros'.

 

 

Click Thumbnails for Larger Images of Angolan Omba - Ndoro Use

 

 

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African currency grass fiber artefact artifact vintage artefacts Ken Karner artefact artifacts fiber baskets african money

 

south african artifact southern africa southern african

 

 

 

Songye - Nsapo Currency Axe

 

Circa 1900 or Before

 

 

Click Thumbnails for Larger Images AFTER Page FULLY Loads

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One of the most unusual and well known currencies in Africa are Songe - Naspo  currency axes of the Congo river basin. According to Manfred A. Zirngibl in his book Rare African Weapons;

“The Songye are known for idolatry, masks and hatchets. The last mentioned represent and absolute high point in craftsmanship. The enormous expressiveness of their hatchets makes them objects of desire not only by collectors of African weapons but also by art lovers. The hatchets were used both as symbols of rank and dignity and as currency weapons. Due to their great popularity as items of barter, axes of this type have been found all the way over to the vicinity of Lake Tanganyika.

 The wooden shaft which basically comes in only one design is normally covered with sheet copper hammered very thin, but can also occasionally be found enclosed in lizard skin. In contrast to the handle, the blade can be made out of a wide variety of materials and has as many different designs.”

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Luvale -Lovale Currency Rope

 

Western Zambia

 

 

 

 

This rope was collected in Western Zambia approximately 15 years ago from natives who had not before experienced ethnographic arts enthusiasts collecting in their area.

 

 

 

 

The rope was carved from bark and stored in this convenient tradable form, which was a currency in the area. The Luvale and other Chokwe related peoples (Mbunda - Lucahazi - Lwena) use this product to bind with during the construction of their homes and fish traps.

 

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Mbole Currency Fabric  - DRC - Congo

 

(Bambole)

 

 

These woven panels date to the first portion of the 20th century and are extremely rare in collections. Each has an individual design, said to characterize the original owner. They were traded as currencies and their distribution was well known.

 

 

 

The Mbole live on the left bank of the Zaire River, in the heart of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The name Mbole, is derived from their position, meaning "the people from downstream".

 

 

During the 18th century, the Mbole migrated to this forest region from north of the Lualaba River. Politically each Mbole village is autonomous, headed by a chief chosen from the elders of each family.  The women of the tribe are involved mainly in cultivating manioc and rice while the men hunt.

 

 

Lilwa (libwe), a graded men's organization, dominates Mbole life. It supervises ritual, educational, judicial, social, political, and economic functions.

 

 

 

Boys of seven to twelve years old are isolated in the forest for circumcision and initiation, undergoing ritual purification and proving themselves through ordeals and fasting. The head of the lilwa society, known as Isoya, is so important that he is buried in a tree.

 

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Currency Fabrics - Congo

 

Kuba ?     Songye ?

 

 

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These two old currency fabrics came to us in a circa 1900 context. We have seen early example from the Kuba which are related to the weave. The Songye are also known to have made such items on looms. The weaving on these is exceptionally fine.

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The BEST Shoowa EVER!

 

 

 

 

These images show how Shoowa fabrics were worn, by both men and women.

 

Galerie Ezakwantu can also offer two ancient red examples, much like those in the above images.

 

 

 

This magnificent example was assembled from Kuba currency fabrics of different makers and vintage. It was collected by a Catholic Priest in former Zaire and must be the most complicated and extraordinary example known.

 

Click the thumbnail for an enlargement.  POA

 

 

 

Kuba Scarification

 

         

                                                                                                                           By Norman Hardy

 

Kuba and related peoples all adorned the body with scarification. Shoowa fabric patterns were replicated.

 

            

 

Woman were responsible for decorating the fabrics with Shoowa design.

 

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Many weapons of the Congo basin were used as currency.  

 

 

Weapons - Congo

 

Click this thumb to visit our Congo Weapons Page

 

 

 

Compliments of...

 

Galerie Ezakwantu

 

World leaders in aesthetically pleasing, authentic tribal art from Southern Africa.

 

 

Contact Galerie Ezakwantu for larger resolution images, availability and prices of items.

 

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