Rare knife from Congo

[Luc LEFEBVRE]

I bought this one, I thought it was Mbuul, Dzing or Yanzi because of the asymetric blade in the handle, but I talked of it with a specialist, he told me it was certainly LELE.
Have you ever seen one like this ?
Luc

[Flavio]

Hello Luc, beautiful piece! Congratulations!!!!!!!!
See these two

http://www.mambele.be/knife_detail.php?tribe=lele&region=&name=&jczn=&met=s&number=0078&rowno=2

http://www.mambele.be/knife_detail.php?tribe=lele&region=&name=&jczn=&met=s&number=0227&rowno=3

[Lew]

Luc it's nice I like the hilt it seems to be made from a solid copper bar.

Lew

[katana]

Luc, I have never seen this type before... :) ...the handle is great.....with that length would it be used two handed? Would this be a functional piece or ceremonial ?

Regards David

[Luc LEFEBVRE]

Well... Mbuun, Dzing, Yanzi & Lele are from the same stylistic area for these asymetric knives.
I have a bigger one from the Hungaan (see picture below).
Lew, the handle is made of wood in fact.
It is 42cm long.
Used for ???
I thought of a sculptor knife, but I don't think the handle is strong enough, I have to search...surely ceremonial with a such worked handle, but the blade is a good one.
Luc

[Flavio]

Hello Luc, to be honest I don't see so many differences between the second one you posted and the others two from Mambele.be and the hungaan are quite different. More as you know the four tribes are all very near and, if I'm not wrong, all are in the "area of influence" of the kuba. What i'm trying to say is that I never seen (but my experience it's limited) a lele knife - sword - dagger or spear even if the other artistic demonstrations (as masks or statues) are well known. Maybe these kind of knives are common of all these tribes and difficult to discern the real provenience.