short sword - Ngondi - Yakoma - DR Congo

Very beautiful and heavy sickle-sword Ngondi Yakoma/Ngbandi
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Length: 62.5 cm
Period: Early 20th century
Provenance: Danny De Waele, Belgium (dannytribalart)

This curved sword was a symbol of luxury prestige, inspired by the functional blades of the Yakoma, the Ngbandi, the Sango, the Gbanziri and the Mbugbu.
While heavy knives were used in war and other utilitarian purposes, lighter knives like this were reserved for female initiation ceremonies and constituted symbols of prestige for the elderly. Among the Ngbandi, this prestige blade was known as the ngondi (Elsen, De fer et de fierté, 2003).
Ngondi Ngbandi Yakoma swords could come in several sizes and this one is well above the average of those from female initiations whose blades were smaller. A superb piece and very heavy.

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