Original Central African 19th Century Mangbetu Tribe Trumbash Throwing Knife and Sape Dagger / Short Sword Lot – 2 items Original Items

Original Items: Only One Lot of 2 Available. The Mangbetu are a Central Sudanic ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, living in the northeastern province of Haut-Uele. The Mangbetu stood out to European colonists because of their elongated heads. Traditionally, babies’ heads were wrapped tightly with cloth in order to give them this distinctive appearance. The practice, called Lipombo, began dying out in the 1950s with the arrival of more Europeans and westernization. Because of this distinctive look, it is easy to recognize Mangbetu figures in African art.

The Mangbetu originally came from south Sudan and migrated south to their current location in AD1000. When they arrived into their current location with its new climate and environment (which was different from the much drier lands in south Sudan) they came to be so heavily indebted to Bantu teachers that they borrowed almost their whole vocabulary relating to their new habitat from Bantu languages.

By the early 18th century the Mangbetu had consisted of a number of small clans who, from southward migrations, had come in contact with a number of northward-migrating Bantu-speaking tribes among whom they lived interspersed. In the late 18th century a group of Mangbetu-speaking elites, mainly from the Mabiti clan, assumed control over other Mangbetu clans and many neighboring Bantu-speaking tribes. It is likely that their knowledge of iron and copper forging, by which they made weapons and fine ornaments, gave them a military and economic advantage over their neighbors.

The items in this lot:

– Trumbash: A trumbash or trombash is a Mangbetu throwing knife from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Similar to a sickle, the trumbash was used as a throwing weapon or as currency. The handle is usually made of wood like this example, but it can be made of ivory or bone. It is more or less decorated, according to the rank of its owner and the use that is made of it. The curved blade is made of iron with a partially wire wrapped handle.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 7 ½” to curve
Blade Width: 5” at widest point
Blade Type: Sickle
Handle Length: 7”

– Sape/Sapi Dagger or Short Sword: We believe this to be of Mangbetu origin given the design and comparison between other examples. The blade on this has the appearance of a spear tip and is constructed from iron with a wood handle.

Specification:
Blade Length: 15 ½”
Blade Width: 4” at widest point
Blade Type: Spear
Handle Length: 5”

Both items are in lovely, well used condition. The sapi appears to have been ground dug, so there is oxidation and pitting present on the blade, with minor chipping in the handle. The trumbash has very little oxidation on the blade, but there is some present on the wire wrap. The handle is unfortunately cracked at the pommel, but does not take away from the beauty.

These are both wonderful items that come more than ready for further research and display!