Prestige Blade
Budu/Baali, Northeastern D.R. Congo
Forged iron, wood
Early 20th century

The prestige blades of the Budu and the Baali of the D.R. Congo (not to be confused with the Bali of Cameroon) certainly manifest the influence of the Mangbetu. The blade is elongated and un-pierced, but otherwise highly reminiscent of the Mangbetu aesthetic. Compared to the exhaustive research conducted on Mangbetu weapons, research on Budu blades is lacking. They were functional chopping tools, parade weapons, and emblems of status (Elsen, Tribal Art Monographs, Vol 1/Nº3; Fischer & Zirngibl, Afrikanische Waffen).

18.25 in :: 46 cm

InventoryID #13-964

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