Elaborately Decorated Axe
Lindi Region, Southeastern Tanzania
Wood, iron, brass
Late 19th / early 20th century

Widstrand's 1958 book African Axes is so far the only resource I can find for this type, which clearly exhibits similarities with other axes from southeastern Africa. He attributes this type as coming from "Lindi," which doesn't necessarily relate to a culture; it more likely refers to the the "Lindi Region," which is a large, sparsely populated area in southeastern Tanzania (less likely, but he could have also been describing the southeastern coastal town of Lindi).

The Lindi region incorporates numerous cultures. According to Wikipedia: Mwera, Ngindo, Matumbi, Machinga, and Makonde. According to Jahn, Tanzania Meisterwerke Afrikanischer Skuptur, 1994: Mwera, Makonde, Makua, Ngindo, Matumbi, Yao, Ndendeule, Ngoni, Ngindo, Rufiji, Matengo, Mpoto, Manda, Pangwa, Ndambda, and Pogoro. 

A related example was donated to the British Museum in 1921, viewable here. 

17.25 in :: 44 cm

InventoryID #13-1880

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