Strange knife/axe from Congo

Mapico1 · 19th August 2006, 07:52 PM

Hi,I know in the Guido Poppe collection this is called Ngombe but to me the handles look like Yakoma,also the design with dots looks typical Yakoma.
The Yakoma's are situated also in the North of Congo to the right of the Ngombe and Sango.Also the quality of the iron looks Yakoma....
Danny

Luc LEFEBVRE · 20th August 2006, 10:35 PM

The area of production of this kind of TK regroups the Gbaya-Ngbaka, the Ngbandi, the Ngombe and the Mbanja.
The Ngbandi include the Sango and the Yakoma.
And the Mbanja are known to have excellent blacksmith who works for the Ngbandi and the Ngbaka.
And the Yakoma are known for their works (forging) for the Ngbaka.
Nothing is simple in Africa...

So Danny is right

the handle looks like a Yakoma one.
http://lulef.free.fr/html/yakoma.html
or Sango
http://lulef.free.fr/html/sango.html

And Freddy see the triangle engravings on the blade, a characteristic of the Ngbaka, and the dots of the Yakoma.
So it seems to be a good mix !
In fact I'm not convinced that it's a throwing knife, they never have a handle made of wood (fragile).
Luc

19th August 2006, 07:52 PM	#1
Mapico1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	Hi,I know in the Guido Poppe collection this is called Ngombe but to me the handles look like Yakoma,also the design with dots looks typical Yakoma. The Yakoma's are situated also in the North of Congo to the right of the Ngombe and Sango.Also the quality of the iron looks Yakoma.... Danny

20th August 2006, 10:35 PM	#2
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	The area of production of this kind of TK regroups the Gbaya-Ngbaka, the Ngbandi, the Ngombe and the Mbanja. The Ngbandi include the Sango and the Yakoma. And the Mbanja are known to have excellent blacksmith who works for the Ngbandi and the Ngbaka. And the Yakoma are known for their works (forging) for the Ngbaka. Nothing is simple in Africa... So Danny is right the handle looks like a Yakoma one. http://lulef.free.fr/html/yakoma.html or Sango http://lulef.free.fr/html/sango.html And Freddy see the triangle engravings on the blade, a characteristic of the Ngbaka, and the dots of the Yakoma. So it seems to be a good mix ! In fact I'm not convinced that it's a throwing knife, they never have a handle made of wood (fragile). Luc