Small Leaf Knife
Kota / Kele / Mbete (Mbédé)/ Mboshi / Mfinu / Nzabi, Gabon / Rep. of Congo
Iron, wood, brass
Late 19th century

This is an old, widely recognized form, but there is unfortunately very little knowledge about its origin and meaning. The type is widely documented in books, museums, and private collections. Most commonly, it is called a “leaf knife” because of its shape, and it is typically attributed to groups from Gabon or the Republic of Congo. But aside from those basic tidbits, not much more information seems to exist.

Bastide’s Armes traditionelles d’Afrique (dagues, poignards, glaives, épées, tranchets et couperets) (2003) makes an interesting suggestion: “This dagger is present in various ethnic groups from western D.R. Congo (Saka, Kele, Kundu, Mongo, Mfinu), Mboshi in eastern Rep. of Congo, and Kota Nzabi, and Mbete in central Gabon. The wide dispersion of the weapon might be the result of its simplicity.” 

11.5 in :: 29 cm

InventoryID #13-1878

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