short sword - Saka/Ngandu - DR Congo

Short sword "ntsoko" Saka/Ngandu
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Total length: 47 cm
Period: early 20th century (1900-20)
Provenance: Danny De Waele - Belgium

The ntsoko short sword comes from the northeast Mongo: the Ngandu, the Saka, the Lalia and the Kuru. The forgers of the Mongo complex produced a very varied range of leaf-shaped knives, like this one. Although they were mainly used as prestige weapons, they could also be used in combat. Westerdijk states that these knives “were in the possession of all adult men among the Saka and their neighbors” (Elsen, De Fer et De fierté, 2003; Westerdijk, African Metal Implements, 1984).

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