Throwing Knife, Ondo
Banda: Mbugbu, Yakpa, Wada, Gbodo, Central African Republic / D.R. Congo
Iron, ornate monitor skin, rattan
Late 19th / early 20th century

The result of spending the 19th century mired in tumult, long migrations, and intertribal warfare was that the once cohesive Banda were dispersed over a vast geographical area, divided into small independent populations, and spoke some 50 distinct dialects. In similar fashion, Banda weapons encompass a diverse range of styles, often deviating dramatically from traditional aesthetics.

Banda throwing knives were historically reserved for military use (to halt the advance of an enemy force, for example), but their function evolved after the 1920s to include peaceful and spiritual purposes, such as ritual dance implements. This metamorphosis was the combined result of the decline of conflict in the 20th century and the Banda's persistent "emotional ties" to their throwing knives.

This piece represents the most classical Banda weapon - a thick wing, an undecorated front, and the absence of a lip (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988).

Mounted on a custom base made of African mahogany. 

In August 2021, I took 25 African throwing knives out to a field in northern California and threw them. We had three different people throwing the knives, and our total throw count was 131. This blade - not decorated with incisions, piercings, or fancy extras - is a blade of pure function, and it yielded the longest throw of the day, 237'8" (79.25 yards / 72.5 meters). 

16.375 in :: 41.4 cm

InventoryID #13-1808

Price on Request