A Nice 'Trio'... 3 Zande(?) spears for comment.

Freddy · 16th July 2007, 06:20 PM

I looked in some books and these types of spears originate in the UBANGI-region of Congo. To be more specific : the border region of Congo, Sudan and the Central African Republic.

In the book 'Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika' (Etnographic Museum , Frankfurt am Main) a similar spear is identified as Mangbetu.

The Zande-tribe and the Mangbetu-tribe were two strong neighbouring tribes. So it could be easily explained that weapons of this kind were found with eiter groups (through war ?).

In the book 'IJZERWERK VAN CENTRAAL-AFRIKA' (Ironwork from Central Africa) by H. Westerdijk, the author says that this type of spear was used by both tribes as a war spear.
And you are right, they would cause terrible wounds.

Anyway, it's nice to find complete spears. I have two spear blades from the same region. Both have vicious barbs. Lengths are 40,5 and 33 cm.

katana · 16th July 2007, 07:26 PM

Thanks alot Freddy

, nice spearheads

I really like this type of spear head ...not because they are so 'evil' looking..but because of the skill of the forging. Thank you for the extra information, I am surprised that this style of spear only appears in a defined area, you would expect the design to be copied by neighbouring tribes and then copied by their neighbouring tribes and so on. I suspect that the blacksmith's skill required to make these, is the reason why the design did not 'travel',

Regards David

Freddy · 16th July 2007, 07:51 PM

The Ubangi-area is quite large and I think these spearheads did travel. They were acquired by different tribes probably by trade or spoils of war.

In most books the Zande or Azande are called 'great smiths'.

katana · 16th July 2007, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

In most books the Zande or Azande are called 'great smiths'.

I think that is a very apt description

16th July 2007, 06:20 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Very nice ! I looked in some books and these types of spears originate in the UBANGI-region of Congo. To be more specific : the border region of Congo, Sudan and the Central African Republic. In the book 'Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika' (Etnographic Museum , Frankfurt am Main) a similar spear is identified as Mangbetu. The Zande-tribe and the Mangbetu-tribe were two strong neighbouring tribes. So it could be easily explained that weapons of this kind were found with eiter groups (through war ?). In the book 'IJZERWERK VAN CENTRAAL-AFRIKA' (Ironwork from Central Africa) by H. Westerdijk, the author says that this type of spear was used by both tribes as a war spear. And you are right, they would cause terrible wounds. Anyway, it's nice to find complete spears. I have two spear blades from the same region. Both have vicious barbs. Lengths are 40,5 and 33 cm.

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16th July 2007, 07:26 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thanks alot Freddy , nice spearheads I really like this type of spear head ...not because they are so 'evil' looking..but because of the skill of the forging. Thank you for the extra information, I am surprised that this style of spear only appears in a defined area, you would expect the design to be copied by neighbouring tribes and then copied by their neighbouring tribes and so on. I suspect that the blacksmith's skill required to make these, is the reason why the design did not 'travel', Regards David

16th July 2007, 07:51 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	The Ubangi-area is quite large and I think these spearheads did travel. They were acquired by different tribes probably by trade or spoils of war. In most books the Zande or Azande are called 'great smiths'.