Songye axes - different types

[Mefidk]

Thanks guys.
Yes, this is entirely local work, and as I said above the first six are Nsapo made. They were quite famous for this and hence their products were prized and traded widely. The other exmples probably not Nsapo. Although there are examples of this form from the Nsapo the basic type extends over the whole Songye range and into Luba and Tetela at least. I don't think that trade networks were so extensive to service such a large area.

As regards their non-weapon status, axes for sure were not the weapon of choice. But at least in the case of the Zappo Zap, there are accounts of axes being used in raids. The 22 head axe I posted is probably too heavy to use as a weapon, but all the others are sharp and solid. Whilst they may not chop down trees, they would certainly make a mess of an unarmored person if push came to shove.

The next group (and the last, at least of my examples) are certainly not weapons, but are rather nice objects, heavily decorated/made with copper. I'll try to post these later or tomorrow.

[Mefidk]

The next examples I have are a bit more variable and introduce some more forms and decoration.
The first one is a kind of transition piece from the previous set to this new set. It has an iron blade in the form of the others but is smaller 14x10 cm cf 17x15 cm, and the decorative copper on the shaft is more elaborate. This example also has two depressions in the club end of the shaft on both sides which is not present on the previous examples.
The next example is very similar, but now we have a copper blade rather than iron, and only one depression at the end of the shaft. The blade shape is the same.
The third of this group is like the second, but no depression in the shaft, and the blade, although a single piece of copper is shaped differently, reminiscent of the Nsapo axe shapes of the first group.
The fourth example is similar to the others, small completely copper, but this time with a double crescent mark on the blade.
I don’t have an example of the type yet, but as far as I can see Eastern Songye axes usually have a figure 8 decoration on the blade, shaft or both. The crescents and moons appear to be more related to axes that have Nsapo/Songye/Tetala attributions, so there may be some way to distinguish areas based on decoration.

The last two examples copper variants of the axes with heads, and I think from the Nsapo/Songye group, but here I’m really skating on thinner ice. One has a crescent, but both share the similar form of head surrounded by a hatched pattern.

That concludes my Songye axe variant overview from my collection. Of course ,there are many others out there, some really impressive axes and variants of types (e.g. single person ‘holding’ the blade), brass blades and a diversity of forms as we go from Songye to Luba. Having only spent a few months collecting and researching these I still have very many questions and not so many answers, so it would be really great if some of the experienced Congo people have some ideas about how to classify these axes (and corrections where I made errors). Forms and types do seem to be fluid but also it seems to me that there are patterns to be found as well.

[Mefidk]

the last two

[Sajen]

I am far from an expert but can provide this link: http://www.africanarms.com/gallery?a...axes&ba-page=2

Maybe you will find some answers there!

Regards,
Detlef

[Mefidk]

Originally Posted by Sajen

I am far from an expert but can provide this link: http://www.africanarms.com/gallery?a...axes&ba-page=2

Maybe you will find some answers there!

Regards,
Detlef

Thanks Detlef, I know this site, it belongs to a member here (and I linked to it in the thread on Congo sword Id)
I guess what I am asking for is whether there is any more detailed information other than the identification as Songye group. There are the Nsapo axes and a few designated as eastern Songye or Songye/Luba, but it would be really neat to know what the tell-tale characteristics are. Maybe there is no answer. However, some people have been collecting these for much longer than me, maybe they know more and will chime in, even if its to say that there is no way to go deeper.

[colin henshaw]

Originally Posted by Mefidk

Thanks Detlef, I know this site, it belongs to a member here (and I linked to it in the thread on Congo sword Id)
I guess what I am asking for is whether there is any more detailed information other than the identification as Songye group. There are the Nsapo axes and a few designated as eastern Songye or Songye/Luba, but it would be really neat to know what the tell-tale characteristics are. Maybe there is no answer. However, some people have been collecting these for much longer than me, maybe they know more and will chime in, even if its to say that there is no way to go deeper.

Chris, you would find a visit/contacting the Congo Museum in Tervuren, (near Brussels), very useful. There are "tribal art" monographs just on the Songye that should have information on weapons as well as culture, religion, symbolism etc.. I know of "Songye Masks & Figure Sculpture" by Dunja Hersak 1985 (difficult to get hold of). Often, African sculpture and such weapons can be interlinked.