Congo scarification knife... which Tribe?

katana · 9th June 2006, 04:55 PM

Thankyou for the information Mapico, I was told that the Congo was the source of this knife. I appreciate it is difficult to say exactly which tribe this would be associated, but at least the sugestion of the Kuba will help me to find out more information.

Flavio · 9th June 2006, 05:41 PM

Hello guys, here are the pictures. The first shows three scarifications/tatoo blades: the first from right is very similar to the one of Katana (collected by the italian explorer Persano before 1907). The other picture shows some other blades: the first three from left come from the tribe Bikorò (never heard before!) the others come from Kusu. The pictures are taken from book: LAME D'AFRICA (Marco S. Piccardi - Luciano Salvatici).

katana · 9th June 2006, 06:42 PM

Thanks Flavio,

that really is similar, are there any dimensions in the referance book you used?

Flavio · 9th June 2006, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Thanks Flavio,

that really is similar, are there any dimensions in the referance book you used?

Sure, sorry I have forgotten them: the lenght of the one similar to yours is 14,3 cm. The blades in the second picture are between 9,6 cm and 17,8 cm

katana · 9th June 2006, 06:57 PM

Thanks Flavio

Wodimi · 10th June 2006, 06:55 PM

Bikoro is a market town in the Democratic Republic of Congo, lying on Lake Tumba, south of Mbandaka. That means at least the first three knifes comes from the Mongo group.
If we can believe Westerdijk yours come north from this region, possibly from the Ngbandi or Ngbaka.
Attached picture is from Westerdijk: ijzerwerk van centraal-afrika.

Flavio · 10th June 2006, 08:25 PM

Yeah Wodimi, you're right I have forgotten to see on the great book of Westerdijk!!! I'm becoming old!!!!

9th June 2006, 05:41 PM	#2
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hello guys, here are the pictures. The first shows three scarifications/tatoo blades: the first from right is very similar to the one of Katana (collected by the italian explorer Persano before 1907). The other picture shows some other blades: the first three from left come from the tribe Bikorò (never heard before!) the others come from Kusu. The pictures are taken from book: LAME D'AFRICA (Marco S. Piccardi - Luciano Salvatici). Attached Images

10th June 2006, 06:55 PM	#6
Wodimi Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 75	Bikoro is a market town in the Democratic Republic of Congo, lying on Lake Tumba, south of Mbandaka. That means at least the first three knifes comes from the Mongo group. If we can believe Westerdijk yours come north from this region, possibly from the Ngbandi or Ngbaka. Attached picture is from Westerdijk: ijzerwerk van centraal-afrika. Attached Images

9th June 2006, 04:55 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thankyou for the information Mapico, I was told that the Congo was the source of this knife. I appreciate it is difficult to say exactly which tribe this would be associated, but at least the sugestion of the Kuba will help me to find out more information.

9th June 2006, 06:42 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thanks Flavio, that really is similar, are there any dimensions in the referance book you used?

9th June 2006, 06:57 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thanks Flavio

10th June 2006, 08:25 PM	#7
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Yeah Wodimi, you're right I have forgotten to see on the great book of Westerdijk!!! I'm becoming old!!!!