This is my smallest African axe. The blade only measures 11,5 cm in length, the cutting edge is 2,5 cm wide.
At first, I considered this as an tourist object of little intrest. Nevertheless, this was the first beaded axe I found. Mostly, I find beaded sickle knives.
The origin of these weapons is Ruanda and Burundi, made and/or used by the Tutsi.
In the tribal art magazine 'Tribal' nr. 7, summer edition 2004, I found an intresting article concerning the art of Ruanda and Burundi. Among the items shown in this article were beaded knives, swords, scepters and all kinds of other objects. It seems this was a way for the ruling class to show off.
The article made me look at these beaded objects in a different way.
