CENTRAL AFRICAN SHORT SWORD

[Flavio]

Hello Tim, what is quite unusual isn't the blade in se for the konda knife(is quite frequent), but with this kind of handle and scabbard is more usual a blade like the one that can you see in the picture from the book "Armi bianche dell'Africa nera" (Black Africa's traditional arms).
Hy Ariel, in part, i'm agree with you, because in a great number of african weapons the ritual and ceremonial function is important, but i think that in this particular case the shape is completely functional. The "importance" of the scabbard is probably due to the importance of the man that "dress" it. There are some weapons that was made only for ceremonial use, and i think, for example, at the entire made of copper.