Jet knife "bwambwa" - Ngbaka - DR Congo

Ancient throwing knife "bwambwa" Ngbaka
Congo, DRC
Total height: 44.5 cm
Period: early 20th century (probably late 19th century)
Provenance: Swedish auction house Lundi; ex collection Sven-Erik Johansson, Varberg, Sweden

This knife model was invented by the Ngbaka, but adopted and widely used by the Ngombe. The Ngbaka recounted how their cultural hero, Seto, wore one, and they described it as the "wife" of another of their blades, the za sali, which was the husband. This large throwing knife is also found among the Dojo.

The manufacture of Ngbaka knives required several days of forging work and was costly. Although they could be used effectively as weapons, their value made such an act impractical; Westerdijk writes: "its owner would throw it only as a last resort, or when he judged there was a good chance to recover it." Consequently, the main role of this weapon was that of a symbol of power, wealth and prestige. Known by the name ngwolo or bwambwa, this type of weapon was mainly worn by village chiefs, lineage elders, and other notables as a symbol of prestige. They were brandished at important funerals, used during initiation ceremonies, and even carried by the police during the colonial period (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988).

Last photograph of an Ngbaka chief and his knife. (photo source: jstor)

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