Old ngulu

Jim McDougall · 28th June 2025, 10:31 PM

Marc, thank you for sharing this outstanding example!
The weapons of Africa are fascinating in their often bizarre shapes, and are rich in the kinds of subjects I enjoy studying, symbolism, traditional beliefs, superstitions, magic, etc. and the anthropological complexities of the peoples of this continent.

While the NGULU form does have a rather grim background as far as its purpose, it does seem much of this has transcended into a more ceremonial character as would seem to be the case with this very fine example.

It seems that the practices these type swords, which appear to have some degree of variations in the shapes and blade systems, for which they were presumably intended ceased during the Belgian occupation (1885-1908) and thereafter. The more likely purpose of these moved toward symbols of authority and station for tribal chiefs and their retinue.

The highly decorated character of this example would seem to be in accord with that idea. I am wondering about the interesting patterns of lines and linear dashes etc. and if perhaps these might align with certain scarification patterns. In one reference it is noted that scarification was not particularly notably a practice among the Ngombe and associated tribes, but perhaps it was present among chiefdom.

It seems that these lines are fairly consistent following the blade shapes and contours on various examples shown however, so beyond the obvious aesthetic perception, could there be some sort of magical or other symbolism applied collectively?

28th June 2025, 10:31 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,337	Marc, thank you for sharing this outstanding example! The weapons of Africa are fascinating in their often bizarre shapes, and are rich in the kinds of subjects I enjoy studying, symbolism, traditional beliefs, superstitions, magic, etc. and the anthropological complexities of the peoples of this continent. While the NGULU form does have a rather grim background as far as its purpose, it does seem much of this has transcended into a more ceremonial character as would seem to be the case with this very fine example. It seems that the practices these type swords, which appear to have some degree of variations in the shapes and blade systems, for which they were presumably intended ceased during the Belgian occupation (1885-1908) and thereafter. The more likely purpose of these moved toward symbols of authority and station for tribal chiefs and their retinue. The highly decorated character of this example would seem to be in accord with that idea. I am wondering about the interesting patterns of lines and linear dashes etc. and if perhaps these might align with certain scarification patterns. In one reference it is noted that scarification was not particularly notably a practice among the Ngombe and associated tribes, but perhaps it was present among chiefdom. It seems that these lines are fairly consistent following the blade shapes and contours on various examples shown however, so beyond the obvious aesthetic perception, could there be some sort of magical or other symbolism applied collectively?