Ceremonial sword, Hemba/Luba, D.R. Congo

[Pertinax]

A new sword has arrived in my African collection.

The Hemba (Luba Hemba) people (or Eastern Luba) are a Bantu ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Quite a rare item; I only came across a couple of specimens from this ethnic group.

A special feature is the very massive handle - a pommel with one body and two faces.

Specifications:
total length – 620 mm, sword length – 590 mm, blade length – 380 mm, blade width at the hilt – 65 mm, blade thickness – 3 mm, weight with sheath – 1000 g, weight – 620 g

By all indications, this sword is some kind of symbol of power or status.

Each Hemba clan has a kabeja, a figurine with one body and two faces, male and female, on one neck. Sacrifices are made to the Kabeje, who pass them on to the spirits.

[Pertinax]

Additional photos

[gp]

enclosed 2 more interesting links concerning tribal maps

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...8&postcount=47

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...1&postcount=46

[Pertinax]

[QUOTE=gp;291551]enclosed 2 more interesting links concerning tribal maps

Thank you gp

Very useful information

[Sajen]

Very nice and complete example!

[Pertinax]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Very nice and complete example!

Hi Detlef, thanks!

Now comes the pleasant task of cleaning.
Regards, Yuri

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Pertinax

Hi Detlef, thanks!

Now comes the pleasant task of cleaning.
Regards, Yuri

Please share pics after it!

Regards,
Detlef

[Marc M.]

Judging from the appearance of the masks, kifwebe, depicted on the handle and scabbard, I would say Songye rather than Luba. It is often difficult to attribute an object to a people, especially when use and design are so close. Interesting piece.

Best regards
Marc

[Pertinax]

[QUOTE=Sajen;291567]Please share pics after it!

Necessarily.

Regards, Yuri

[Pertinax]

Originally Posted by Marc M.

Judging from the appearance of the masks, kifwebe, depicted on the handle and scabbard, I would say Songye rather than Luba. It is often difficult to attribute an object to a people, especially when use and design are so close. Interesting piece.

Best regards
Marc

Hi Marc, thanks!

Yes, very similar to Songye.

You're right, Hemba and Songye's ancestors migrated from the Luba Empire, so they have a lot in common.

On the Hemba people, I found information on the Kabeja cult. There are figurines for Songye Janus Two Faced, but I have not found a description of the cult.

Regards, Yuri

[Pertinax]

Thanks to Mark's help, I am amending the identification of the sword.

The sword clearly belongs to the culture of the Songye people.

[drac2k]

Thank you for the vintage picture of the warrior.I always considered the shield that he has ,with the carving and face to be made for tourists, but it appears that I may have been wrong based on the photograph.

[Pertinax]

Originally Posted by drac2k

Thank you for the vintage picture of the warrior.I always considered the shield that he has ,with the carving and face to be made for tourists, but it appears that I may have been wrong based on the photograph.

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