Throwing Knife, moko-ndo
Ngbaka Mabo, Central African Republic / D.R. Congo
Iron, wood, copper, brass
Early 20th century

Mabo throwing knives, collectively known as ndo were used as weapons of war, prestige objects, and currency blades. As reported by Poutrin (1910), no Ngbaka Mabo man ever left his village without carrying his spears and throwing knife, even in times of peace.

Their importance as missiles seems to have been rather small; when used in battle, they functioned mainly as handweapons. Their role as tokens of dignity and badges of office seems to have prevailed over any martial role. In the hands of lineage heads, hunting chiefs, and religious specialists, they functioned as signs of authority and rank. Leaders of an antiwitchcraft cult, the so-called wama, carried examples of this type during part of their ceremonies.

This piece is incised with spider motifs on the wing, crown, and spur, which alludes to the spider's important role as the hero in many Mabo folk tales. Interestingly, the incisions on the wing were clearly applied at a different time and with a different technique than the other incisions on the blade. These later incisions on the wing resemble a Congolese style to the east of the Mabo, suggesting this piece was traded or otberwise transplanted to a new home east of the place in which it was created (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988).

Grip detail photo published in Lefebvre, The Throwing Knives: The Southern Knives (Volume 2), 2020, page 125. 

15.25 in :: 39 cm

InventoryID #13-1652

Price on Request