My First Kuba Sword......comments please

Flavio · 22nd October 2006, 10:29 AM

Hi Luc, how are you?

I have already seen this pictures and for sure are quite recent (maybe 70s or 80s?), and it's also strange the fact that these warriors show the ikula (that is a typic kuba knife) and the long sword in the scabbard with faces that in all the books is attributed to Luba (and no Ilwoon at all!!)

Maybe i'm completely wrong but this to me seems a "organized festivity" to permit a WHITE REPORTAGE!! What do you think?

Flavio

Luc LEFEBVRE · 22nd October 2006, 11:12 AM

Fine Flavio

I was thinking like you...but I' found this pic from 1953 showing a KUBA dancer with a sword in a scabbard attributed generally to the LUBA !
Well it's not simple...The western Luba (kasayi) rae not far from the Kuba region, and in the kuba territory you have people with the name of Luba (according with Felix : see the map).
We have to find and old colonial man, who live in this place to know...before he dies...
Luc

Luc LEFEBVRE · 22nd October 2006, 11:20 AM

1956 with a typical Kuba knife, pic from the same origin, same photograph.
Luc

Luc LEFEBVRE · 22nd October 2006, 11:24 AM

1929/1932 pics : see the man at the second plan , and the man between the two women

has an ikul in his right hand .
Luc

Flavio · 22nd October 2006, 11:42 AM

Hi Luc, beautiful pictures, thank you!! For sure some swords were traded and we can see from old pictures a man of one tribe shows a sword of other groups, this is normal. Anyway you are agree that the scabbards that show heads are recent? No one could show old pictures of scabbard decorated with this heads?

Luc LEFEBVRE · 22nd October 2006, 12:30 PM

Yes I think like you.
Luc

Mapico1 · 22nd October 2006, 01:25 PM

Hi,
I agree with Flavio the colored pic's are a mix of all Kuba and other tribe arms,headdresses and etno....festival
The 1956 pic is from the Pyaang....
The pic with scabbard is not Luba but Kete,they have the same handle but I'm sure the blade ends on 3 points not one
I added some Kuba knives to show what I mean...

katana · 22nd October 2006, 01:27 PM

Hi Flavio, Mapico and Luc,
great pics and information......welcome additions to the thread..... And very nice examples of Kuba knives ....I'm not jealous

22nd October 2006, 11:12 AM	#2
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	Fine Flavio I was thinking like you...but I' found this pic from 1953 showing a KUBA dancer with a sword in a scabbard attributed generally to the LUBA ! Well it's not simple...The western Luba (kasayi) rae not far from the Kuba region, and in the kuba territory you have people with the name of Luba (according with Felix : see the map). We have to find and old colonial man, who live in this place to know...before he dies... Luc Attached Images

22nd October 2006, 11:20 AM	#3
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	another pic from 1956 1956 with a typical Kuba knife, pic from the same origin, same photograph. Luc Attached Images

22nd October 2006, 11:24 AM	#4
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	1929/1932 pics : see the man at the second plan , and the man between the two women has an ikul in his right hand . Luc Attached Images

22nd October 2006, 01:25 PM	#7
Mapico1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	Kuba carnaval Hi, I agree with Flavio the colored pic's are a mix of all Kuba and other tribe arms,headdresses and etno....festival The 1956 pic is from the Pyaang.... The pic with scabbard is not Luba but Kete,they have the same handle but I'm sure the blade ends on 3 points not one I added some Kuba knives to show what I mean... Attached Images

22nd October 2006, 10:29 AM	#1
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hi Luc, how are you? I have already seen this pictures and for sure are quite recent (maybe 70s or 80s?), and it's also strange the fact that these warriors show the ikula (that is a typic kuba knife) and the long sword in the scabbard with faces that in all the books is attributed to Luba (and no Ilwoon at all!!) Maybe i'm completely wrong but this to me seems a "organized festivity" to permit a WHITE REPORTAGE!! What do you think? Flavio

22nd October 2006, 11:42 AM	#5
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hi Luc, beautiful pictures, thank you!! For sure some swords were traded and we can see from old pictures a man of one tribe shows a sword of other groups, this is normal. Anyway you are agree that the scabbards that show heads are recent? No one could show old pictures of scabbard decorated with this heads?

22nd October 2006, 12:30 PM	#6
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	Yes I think like you. Luc

22nd October 2006, 01:27 PM	#8
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Flavio, Mapico and Luc, great pics and information......welcome additions to the thread..... And very nice examples of Kuba knives ....I'm not jealous