Knife "kpinga" - Nzakara - DR Congo

Heavy knife "Kipinga" Nzakara
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Height: 47 cm
Period: early 20th century (1900-10)
Provenance: Swedish auction house; Mats Sigelfeldt - Sweden

Although historically used as a weapon by the sophisticated armies of the Zande and Nzakara, this type of knife, called kpinga, became obsolete in the 20th century and evolved more into a symbolic object than a functional one. They were notably used during ceremonies in honor of the ancestors, handled during the funerals of powerful men, and even thrown or buried in graves. As powerful symbols of authority, they were considered the prerogative of the nobility and were often kept and protected in warehouses; only a few men had the privilege of keeping a kpinga at home (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988).

Excellent condition for a piece of this age, with its fiber handle intact.

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