Short Sword in Elaborate Sheath
Chokwe / Lunda, Angola / Zambia
Iron, wood, leather, brass, copper
Early 20th century

According to Beauté Fatale, the sword in this rare, elaborate ensemble was known as Mukwale and the sheath Cindalo (Duvosquel & Deraeve, 1992). 

However, Manuela Palmeirim described how the accoutrements added to the basic attire of the ayilol (nobles or village headmen) were symbols of office that expressed rank and related to incidents in the history of their title. For example, several major ayilol wore the skins of serval cats on their waist over their chiefly skirt to show their status as titleholders. Some ayilol whose predecessors were war leaders or executioners during the Lunda Empire were distinguished by the emblem of the type of sword seen here, known as mpak ya mikwaal (Chokwe!, 1998)

Around 1860, following a major famine, the Chokwe migrated and settled in Angola. They were governed by a king known as Mwana Ngana, who distributed hunting grounds and cultivated areas. The male Mugonge and female Ukule societies regulated social life (Bacquart, The Tribal Arts of Africa, 1998).

28.75 in :: 73 cm

InventoryID #13-2794

Price on Request