Brass Tribute Blade
Yakoma (Gbodo) / Gembele / Bira, D.R. Congo / Central African Republic
Brass, copper
Circa 1940

This throwing knife variety was the product of the Ngbandi subgroups known as Yakoma (also known as Gbodo), Gembele, or Bira. This type is something of a multitribal style, as the Ngbandi borrowed the form of the Nzakara's kpinga throwing knife and brought it to baroque perfection. The pierced bridge (stem) and needle-sharp pointed lip are refined elements that identify this type.

Throwing knives never formed an integral part of the Yakoma's armament, which consisted of spears, shields, and bows and arrows. Makers of a variety of fine knives, daggers, and scimitars that were used primarily for trade and barter, Yakoma blacksmiths also produced this throwing knife type mainly for export (predominantly to the Nzakara and Zande for military or ceremonial use) (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988).

An excellent description of this blade-type comes from the British Museum, which owns four comparably spectacular examples (theirs all made of copper):

"Before the introduction of imported scrap metal and coinage in the twentieth century, metal was a very important and valuable commodity in Africa. Metal currency in various forms was used for several hundred years before minted coinage was introduced by European colonials. Locally produced metal currency took the form of modified utilitarian objects such as hoe blades, arrowheads and spearheads.

The Azande, in common with many other Central and Sudanic African peoples, made and used throwing knives as currency. The Azande are a diverse people united by a common language, organized into kingdoms ruled by different members of a single royal dynasty. Today they are dispersed between the modern states of Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Produced by vassal peoples on the periphery of Zande influence, such as the Nzakara and Ngbandi, these stylized, copper [in our case, brass] versions of iron throwing knives were circulated throughout the Zande kingdoms, along with a wide range of luxury items. They were not exchanged on a commercial basis, but rather as part of a complex system of tribute-giving which maintained the delicate balance of power which existed in the decentralized Zande empire."

This text and a photograph of the British Museum's four pieces can be seen here.

Mounted on a custom display stand, pictured below. 

Published in: Lefebvre, NGBANDI YAKOMA: Armes Traditionelles, 2017, plate 62.

16.75 in :: 42.5 cm

InventoryID #13-1105

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