Throwing Knife, moko-ndo
Ngbaka Mabo, Central African Republic / D.R. Congo
Iron, brass, wood, copper
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 (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988).

This example has an unusually-shaped crown, which doesn't sweep back like most models. There are four piercings on the iron blade that are all clearly hand-made (not machined), and there are iron flakes in the copper rivets. The iron blade itself shows proper signs of age including grain from being traditionally forged and areas of delamination. 

15.375 in :: 39 cm

InventoryID #13-2800

Price on Request