Central and Southern African Tribal Art
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African Weapons
Congo - Rwanda - Burundi
Throwing Blades of Central Africa
Many of the Central African weapons shown below are easily located on the map above by clicking the thumb.
Contact us for information on these objects, larger resolution pictures and/or prices.
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Execution / Status Ngulu Sword
Ngombe / Doko
Belgium Congo - Circa 1900
Ngala Warriors and Tribal People
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These drawings and a 19th century photograph show ngulu execution swords at various executions. The back side of the blade was used as a machete for cutting. The tensioned tree with rope assured the victims head would be flung far away into the forest at the moment of decapitation. They believed a person remained "aware" for some time after decapitation. As a result, the deceased final sensual experience was flying through the air to meet his or her ancestors.
Werner Fisher & Manfred A. Zirngibl wrote in their book Afrikanische Waffen;
This design was selected for cult and execution knives. A knife was created which symbolized the inexorableness on the judgment and execution. This execution knife became a symbol of power and, in a few variations became a ceremonial knife for tribal chieftains. At executions, the condemned man was tied to the ground with ropes and poles. His head was fastened with leather straps to a bent tree branch. In this way it was ensured that the man’s neck would remain stretched. After the decapitation, the head would be automatically catapulted far away.”
Executions were not judicial events meant for murders or criminals. They were events carried out for ceremonial purposes and the chosen were invariably slaves.
Both the Ngombe and Doko used the ngulu during the 20th century. The knife had transformed itself into a ceremonial dance blade. The reason for this was that by 1900 the Belgium's had forbidden executions, as well as cannibalism, equally widespread.
Regardless, the Ngombe continued to use the cult knife in their "Likbeti" dance, which often lasted two days. At the end of the dance a goat was sacrificed for the feast, with a single stroke from the back side of the blade. This goat was consumed, just as the limbs and torso of victims were in former times.
Our sword - knife was rediscovered in Australia during the early 90's.. It was most likely traveled there on a steamship during the first part of the 20th century. By this time, ngulu had become powerful status symbols and as such, important authorative objects. Both the weight and power of the blades function had decreased, while the art form enhanced with the addition of small projections.
The use of ngulu blades became more and more widespread, intended for headmen and chiefs.
Above; a Mongo chief in full regalia, holding a ngulu, closely resembling ours.
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Mangbetu Authorative Knife
Early 20th Century
The knife to the right side of the musician is much related to ours.
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Our knife has two sections of wirework in the mid portion. This type of knife was originally used as a weapon of war and also as an agricultural implement, but later developed into luxury item and a symbol of status.
These images show late 19 C drawings of Munza, the king of the Mangbetu. Seated on his thrown, he holds a similar knife as a symbol of power and authority.
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Lakka - Kapsiki - Falli Throwing Knifes
Cameroon -Nigeria
Two circa 1900 Examples
Throwing blade held at Tibbu-Männer
The cradle of throwing knives is the Sahara. Most likely they evolved from throwing sticks in the area of Kordofan and Tibesti in the Sudan and Chad.
South of the Mandara mountains in northern Cameroon and Nigeria are found the Kapsiki, Falli and Margi tribes. These people all share a related form of throwing knife.
According to ethnological literature, the blade was intentionally shaped to represent the rooster, which played an important part of their beliefs.
These throwing knives served as weapons and were "worn" as status items. *
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Shi Status Sword
Burundi- DRC - Rwanda
The Shi live along lake Tanganyika's northernmost region in the Congo, Burundi and Rwanda. They are also known as or related to the Omushi, Abashi, Amashi, Bashi, Banyabungu, Wanyabungu and Bahavu. Small swords were owned by higher ranking people as sceptres. This delicate, circa 1900 example is almost completely covered in copper wire.
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Songye Axe - Congo / Circa 1920's
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Ceremonial Dance Hoe
Western Zambia
Ila Speaking Girl - Zambia
Miniature hoes called Katemokavamwali were danced at female imitations called mwali in Angola, DRC - Congo and Western Zambia. Katemokavamwali literally means the hoe of the female initiate. Katemo is hoe, vamwali is of (va) women (mwali) or female initiate... so; Katemo ka vamwali.
For the most part blades were carved from wood or forged by an ironsmith. This example has a wooden blade, was once part of the Southern African Heinz Papen Collection and most likely dates to 1900 -1920.
The wooden blades underside has the initials MD carved into a backdrop of a larger "D". The object may have been offered at a presentation to an important official.
Traditional African body paint and scarification.
These images were taken in the early 1990's while a mwali ceremony was in progress, north west of Kabompo.
The writer has often seen Katemokavamwali danced at the boys Mukanda .
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Songye - Nsapo Currency Axe
Circa 1900 or Before
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Many weapons of the Congo basin were used as currency.
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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.