Namambele
| Namambele | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Weapon type: | dagger |
| Designations: | Namambele |
| Use: | Status weapon |
| Region of origin / author: |
Central Africa, Mangbetu and other ethnic groups |
| Overall length: | 20-40 cm |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Namambele is a Central African dagger . It was mainly used by the Mangbetu , but neighboring ethnic groups also used similar daggers.
description
The Namambele has a double-edged blade ; the shape can be leaf-shaped or straight. Some specimens have ornamental openings in the blade. The handle is made of wood . It is round and decorated with a carved human head at the top. This special tradition of anthropomorphic representations developed around 1900. Although such forms existed before the colonization of Africa , the demand from European art collectors increased dramatically. The daggers were reserved for the ruling Mangbetu aristocracy . Men wore these daggers on their belts as jewelry and as a status symbol . Usually the blacksmith made the blade, while a carver was responsible for the handle. The total length is 20–40 cm.
Ornamental daggers with carved ivory handles are particularly associated with the Budu . Occasionally came also in the Mangbetu, Nzakara , Bandia and Avungara-Azande ago
Occasionally it is reported that daggers of this type were used in circumcisions .
Web links
- Examples at oriental-arms.com: [1] , [2]
- Examples at lempertz.com: [3] , [4]
- Description and illustration at Ogun (accessed October 1, 2009)
Individual evidence
- ^ A b Johanna Agthe, Karin Strauss: Arms from Central Africa. Verlag Museum für Völkerkunde , 1985, ISBN 978-3-88270-354-2 p. 149
- ↑ a b c Manfred A. Zirngibl , Alexander Kubetz: panga na visu. Handguns, forged cult objects and shields from Africa. HePeLo-Verlag, 2009, ISBN 978-3-9811254-2-9 . Pp. 145, 151 300
- ↑ a b Mangbetu Knife, Democratic Republic of the Congo at Sotheby’s cited Curtis A. Keim, Enid Schildkrout: African Reflections: Art from Northeastern Zaire , Verlag University of Washington , 1990, ISBN 978-0295969619 p. 148
- ↑ Knife: Head (Namambele), 19th – 20th century Metropolitan Museum of Art
- ↑ File: Mangbetu Trimming Knife Museum Rietberg RAC 15.jpg , Museum Rietberg