Central African for ID

[JeffS]

Posting this for a friend. Can anyone give me information on what this is and potential age I can pass on?

[RobT]

Hi JeffS,

It is a central African mambele sword. The hilt isn't the typical hourglass shape but, since I have one that is atypical also, it could be that variants are commonly found in some of the various groups that use this sword. You can get plenty more information online and on this forum.

Sincerely,
RobT

[Ian]

Hi Jeff,

Yes, this one is a mambele from the various tribal groups of Zaire/Central African Republic. The picture you posted was hard to see any details, so I photoshopped it so we can see it better. The attached illustrations come from Jan Essen. Tribal Arts Monograph, Vol 1, No 1: The sickle weapons. The second picture lists the various tribal groups in its legend. There has been conjecture whether these were swords or throwing knives. In general, if the weapon had an obvious handle then it is considered a sword/knife/ If it has a bare metal end or perhaps metal wrapped with a leather pouch then it is considered a throwing knife. Some apparently served in both capacities.

As far as age, it's very hard to say from the picture. The sword does seem to have some age, perhaps from 1900 +/-. Interesting carved hilt, possibly ivory but probably bone.

Regards, Ian

.

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Jeff,
As RobT has noted, and Ian has wonderfully detailed and furnished that outstanding reference, these interesting swords are from the Azande people in NE regions of Congo bordering S. Sudan.

As the elusive arms writer Torben Flindt (Bukharen arms) once told me, "ethnographic weapons have no geographic boundaries", and while these interesting swords are of course primarily from the regions noted, it seems they had a degree of use in the late 19th century in the Sudanese campaigns during the Mahdiyya.

I recall in the 2002 remake of "The Four Feathers" with the late Heath Ledger, there was a scene with him in a cavalry charge where while he is wielding a kaskara, tribesmen around him have these Azande 'mambela'. My first thoughts were 'Hollywood license', however looking further it seems some serious research had been done. There were many tribal forces involved in these campaigns in the Sudan, which accounted for the curious spectrum of arms found in use in these Sudanese contexts.

In discussions ever the years there has been a great deal of debate, as Ian has noted, whether certain African weapons were throwing knives , or swords. I think Ian's explanation best serves that dilemma.

The blade on this weapon seems to have some age, which I agree could put it into the latter 19th c. and in the periods of the Sudan campaigns, and later into the Anglo-Egyptian occupation period. It seems many, if not most of these weapon forms in the holdings of famed museums like Pitt-Rivers etc. were collected in the 20s and 30s. Many of these are seen in the references now published.

Clearly as seen in the illustration Ian shows, the handle is of the same form which seems to have become a popularized style, and as traditional arms, like many ethnographic forms, these are often generationally remounted.

Best regards,
Jim

[Sajen]

I've read somewhere that this sort of swords are designed for holding these swords in one hand and in the other hand a shield and these swords can reach the opponent behind the shield and to put down the shield of the opponent but frankly said I don't know if it's a true story but the design of the sword would fit this tale.
Jeff, is the handle from ivory?

Regards,
Detlef

[JeffS]

Originally Posted by Sajen

I've read somewhere that this sort of swords are designed for holding these swords in one hand and in the other hand a shield and these swords can reach the opponent behind the shield and to put down the shield of the opponent but frankly said I don't know if it's a true story but the design of the sword would fit this tale.
Jeff, is the handle from ivory?

Regards,
Detlef

I dont have it in hand but I will ask him to take better photos. I think he will be thrilled to learn he has an authentic cultural artifact from his time there. Thank you all for the fascinating information.