Throwing Knife, ngalio
Sara, Sudan / Chad / Central African Republic
Iron, leather, cotton textile
Early 20th century

This throwing knife comes from the southeastern or northern Sara, a generalized term that encompasses numerous cultural groups, such as the Madjingay, Manga, Musgum, Niellim, and Tumak. The area around Lake Chad that these groups inhabit is believed by many to be the birthplace of the African throwing knife. Known as ngalio, these throwing knives were often carried in bunches of three or more in custom leather quivers. Unlike other African weapon-types where style trumps function, this is a purely functional form. The careful incisions and high quality iron indicate that this piece was manufactured by the kodi blacksmith caste, and not the haddad blacksmiths, whose blades are made of a duller iron and are more crudely ornamented (Spring, African Arms and Armor, 1993).

Sara blades are unusual in that the reverse side was decorated, and the obverse was often undecorated, unlike practically all other African throwing knives, where the opposite is true. Finding an example with grip still intact is special, as practically all examples of ngalio knives have lost their grip. The grip on this piece is similar to those worn on throwing knives of the Masalit in the Darfur region of Sudan (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988).

29.5 in :: 75 cm

InventoryID #13-990

Price on Request