African axes, try out?

[Tim Simmons]

This new set up is very smart.If I have done this correctly you should see three axes.The one with the triangular blade,thin section and razor like is south African, but the other two could well come from further north.Any comment wellcomed.Tim[IMG]http://[/IMG]

[Freddy]

Why not show more African axes. These weapons are rarely seen on the forum.

First two axes from the Mende-tribe in Sierra Leone :



Second picture is of two Songye axes from Congo



The third pic is my best axe. Again from the Songye tribe. All three these axes have a handle covered in monitor skin. This piece is huge : the cutting edge measures 39 cm. The blade weighs about 2 kgs.
Nice detail are the heads carved in the axe blade. In this case, there are 42 small heads.





Tim, about your axes : the first one is definitively South African (Zulu or Swazi). The others perhaps from the Tschwana (Botswana) or the Mangwato (I've seen an example in the book from Fischer & Zirngibl).

[Radu Transylvanicus]

Tim, your first one is a Swazi ,,iseseze,, probably from Nguni , western part of south tip of Africa ( Swaziland or South Africa) ... help a brother out and post a close up of the blade/shaft binding ... Zulus shape their shaft head more or less like a knobkerrie... Some Zulu and Shona carried ones that were somehow (but not quiet) similar ...

[Tim Simmons]

Hello Freddy, yes African axes are most interesting and vairied.You have some very nice pieces.I have have yet to find a congo axe at the right price when I have little money.When I do have money,I can never find anything.I think clubs would be another good topic.Tim

[Tim Simmons]

[IMG]http://[/IMG] This new way is a lot of fun.The binding and iron insert decoration.I do not know how to get- Hampshire ,England UK, by my name.Tim

[wolviex]

Tim!
It's very easy

Under the banner of the Vikingsword forum there is label with quick links. The first one is USER CP, so click, and you're inside. Then, on the left, choose from the menu EDIT PROFILE. When it will be open, go down, and you'll find a label called "ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONS", fill it, and here you are!!
Good luck

[Freddy]

Look at this African axe from the Tshokwe-tribe living in Congo and Angola. It has a nice carved head and a forked axe blade.

[Tim Simmons]

I like it.

[Flavio]

Ah Great Topic!
Here are some of my african axes.
In the first photo are three axes:
a kilonda from Songye (Congo)
an axe from the Pende or Lozi (Congo - Angola)
and the third is an axe probabily from Tanzania

The second photo is about a kasuyu or zappozap Songye or Nsapo axe (Congo). It’s quite similar to the example of Freddy
but it has a minor number of faces (8 in total).
According with C. Spring the number of faces mirrors the rank of the man that carried the axe.

The last axe is another kilonda but made in copper (my favourite!)

About your axes the first seems a mixture between a Sotho axe and a Swazi one. For the others two i’m agree with Freddy.

[Freddy]

Nice copper axe. The ones with the copper handle are rare.

I also like the Tanzanian one on the first picture. Axes from Congo are quite common in Belgium. But others.......

Here's a peculiar one. It's again Tshokwe. The blade is made from aluminium. Seems that the smith preferred to use a rare metal (in Congo or Angola, anyway) when he made the piece. For ceremonial use as the blade has no edge.
The name of the former owner is probably on the handle : 'YAMWA'.
It's the first African axe with an aluminium blade I ever saw, so I bought it.

[Freddy]

Here's another pic of the handle

[Tim Simmons]

What a good topic has developed out of a test.A real pleasure to see the pieces other collectors have.I really like those prestige axes I shall get one some day.I have been preparing pictures of African fighting sticks ,I do not think you could call them clubs.I will post them some time in the coming week.Tim

[Jeff D]

Great thread! Any of you have pictures of adas?

Thanks
Jeff

[Flavio]

Hello to all, guys,
someone of you have some pictures of
african warriors with axes in hand?
Thank you

[Freddy]

I have no pictures of warriors with axes, but a new axe will do, no ?

This one is from the Luba-tribe in Congo. The handle is covered with a thick copper band.





Who's next ?

[Tim Simmons]

I am all out of axes except my Sudanese one which I posted some time ago.Tim

[Tim Simmons]

Hi , I forgot about this Camerroon curency axe,not being in the same room as the sharp things.We could be getting near to throwing knifes.Tim[IMG]http://[/IMG]

[Flavio]

Hi Freddy.
What are the red circles that are looked under the brass tacks?
What kind of material they are made?

[VANDOO]

THE FIRST AXE IS FROM THE FANG TRIBE OF GABON, THE SECOND IS FROM THE LUBA TRIBE OF CONGO, THE OTHER THREE ARE VARIATIONS OF THE SONGYE TRIBE OF THE CONGO OFTEN REFERED TO AS A (NA ZAPA ZAP) ,THEY HAVE OLD COPPER COVERED HANDLES AND 2 FACES EACH. THESE EXAMPLES ARE ALL CEREMONIAL, I WILL POST SOME OTHERS WHEN i GET THE CHANCE. ENJOY!

[VANDOO]

I COULDN'T GET ONE OF THE SONGYE AXES TO LOAD SO HAD TO TAKE MORE PICTURES. SO i ADDED ANOTHER ONE IT IS ALSO FROM THE CONGO AND CEREMONIAL. IT IS CARVED EBONY WITH TWO LIONS AT THE HEAD AND A MAN AND TWO SNAKES SUPPORTING TWO ELEPHANTS FOR THE HANDLE. (ONE ELEPHANT IS DAMMAGED. WILL GET MORE LATER.

[Freddy]

Here are two more axes.

The first is an axe from the Nupe-tribe in Nigeria. It's a big one : length of handle is 58 cm (23,2 inches) and the blade measures 36 cm (14,4 inches).



The second one is a small dance axe used by the following tribes : Chamba, Mumuye, Mambila, Idoma, Montol. All living in the area North Nigeria/Cameroon. Forged in one piece.



Vandoo, about your last axe. I don't think it's from Congo. According to (my humble) opinion it's from Tansania (Luguru and/or Zaramo-tribe).

[Tim Simmons]

This does not appear on my PC so I am trying again.A Camerroon curency axe.I seem to be having those red cross problems again.I have no idea how to deal with them.[IMG]http://[/IMG]

[Freddy]

Tim, do you see the resemblance between the knobs of the lower part of our all metal axes (your currency axe and my dance axe) ? Both are from the same region, I think.

[Freddy]

This is my smallest African axe. The blade only measures 11,5 cm in length, the cutting edge is 2,5 cm wide.
At first, I considered this as an tourist object of little intrest. Nevertheless, this was the first beaded axe I found. Mostly, I find beaded sickle knives.
The origin of these weapons is Ruanda and Burundi, made and/or used by the Tutsi.

In the tribal art magazine 'Tribal' nr. 7, summer edition 2004, I found an intresting article concerning the art of Ruanda and Burundi. Among the items shown in this article were beaded knives, swords, scepters and all kinds of other objects. It seems this was a way for the ruling class to show off.
The article made me look at these beaded objects in a different way.

[VANDOO]

JUST BUMPING THIS ONE UP AS IT GIVES GOOD INFO ON AFRICAN AXES. I ADDED A COUPLE AXE PICTURES ALSO , NOT MY AXES UNFORTUNATELY, BUT NICE EXAMPLES.

[VANDOO]

BUMPING THIS ONE UP AGAIN AS THERE IS A NEW AXE QUESTION ON A FANG AXE (SHONA) MY EXAMPLE IS SMALL 9.75 INCH L X 7 7/8 INCH W HEAD. THE HANDLE IS WRAPPED IN COPPER WIRE WITH A COPPER END CAP. THE BLADE IS STEEL WITH SOME DESIGN AND THE EDGES ARE SHARP ESPECIALLY ON THE BEAK PART. I WOULD NOT WANT TO CHOOSE IT FOR A WEAPON BUT I ALSO WOULD NOT WANT ANYONE TO COME AFTER ME WITH IT AS IT COULD DO SOME SERIOUS DAMMAGE. NOTE HOW THE COPPER WIRE IS ATTACHED TO THE BLADE SPUR AND HAMMERED FLAT. SEE PICTURE IN MY PREVIOUS POST ABOVE.