Throwing Knife, Za
Ngbaka / Gbaya, D.R. Congo / Central African Republic
Iron, vegetable fiber, monitor skin
Early 20th century

The design of this throwing knife was derived from a knife known as za, which was invented by the Ngbaka. The Ngbaka spoke of how their cultural hero, Seto, carried one, and referred to this type as the "wife" of another of their blades, the za sali, who was the husband.

This throwing knife variation took an expert blacksmith several days to produce, and was expensive. While it could be effectively thrown as a weapon, its value made such an act impractical; Westerdijk writes, "its owner hurled it only in the last resort, or when he esteemed to have a fair chance of recovering it." As such, this weapon's primary role was that of an emblem of power, wealth, and prestige. It was also brandished during important funerals, used in initiation ceremonies, and even carried by police during the colonial period (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988).

15.5 in :: 39.5 cm

InventoryID #13-1658

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