Mambele Sickle Sword

Martin Lubojacky · 25th November 2017, 07:37 PM

Not all sub-Saharan African swords have have peculiar forms which render their fighting funcions. I think this is not matter of African Horn, East Africa, Sahel, South Africa. Such weapons come usually or mostly from the West and Central Africa (BTW - very often from the regions, wher they also used various ceremonial items like masks, statues). Why - I don´t know. (But - in any case through the whole continent they used diverse styles of very effective spears...)

RobertGuy · 25th November 2017, 07:46 PM

Following this with interest and the general idea that these might not have been terribly effective as weapons. I had a suggestion from another forum that swords such as these are primarily used as currency. Anyone heard of this?

Martin Lubojacky · 25th November 2017, 08:22 PM

Yes - ceremonial blades were used as a currency (e.g abnormally big spear blades).

Besides this there were "status" swords, but I am not sure if this is the case this long Zande sickles.

This blades are long and not too much thick, made of a relatively soft iron at the same time (you can bend it down easily) - I am of the opinion, that it was not effective weapon (maybe Zande had some special fighting tactics or fioghting art ...?!?). I could not be too much effective even for stabbing from behind.

Martin Lubojacky · 25th November 2017, 08:28 PM

Sorry for the keying mistakes --- not me, but it could not be effective for stabbing ...

CharlesS · 25th November 2017, 10:00 PM

Many of the sickle swords had the function of going around the enormous shields of the various peoples of the region. Eventually, they became status symbols. Some of the heavier Ngombe/Ngbandi ones were even used as executioner's swords I believe.

Sajen · 26th November 2017, 10:27 AM

Sorry, double post!

Sajen · 26th November 2017, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Many of the sickle swords had the function of going around the enormous shields of the various peoples of the region.

This is exactly what I read somewhere, this "swords" was used to pull down the enemys shields. But I don't know if this is correct.

In "panga na visu" it's written on page 132 that this knives are from the Ngombe, Doko, Poto, Budja and Ngbandi and called bero or mambeli.
Here is an interesting video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTgmxKjY--c

Regards,
Detlef

25th November 2017, 07:37 PM	#1
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Not all sub-Saharan African swords have have peculiar forms which render their fighting funcions. I think this is not matter of African Horn, East Africa, Sahel, South Africa. Such weapons come usually or mostly from the West and Central Africa (BTW - very often from the regions, wher they also used various ceremonial items like masks, statues). Why - I don´t know. (But - in any case through the whole continent they used diverse styles of very effective spears...)

25th November 2017, 07:46 PM	#2
RobertGuy Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 135	Following this with interest and the general idea that these might not have been terribly effective as weapons. I had a suggestion from another forum that swords such as these are primarily used as currency. Anyone heard of this?

25th November 2017, 08:22 PM	#3
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Yes - ceremonial blades were used as a currency (e.g abnormally big spear blades). Besides this there were "status" swords, but I am not sure if this is the case this long Zande sickles. This blades are long and not too much thick, made of a relatively soft iron at the same time (you can bend it down easily) - I am of the opinion, that it was not effective weapon (maybe Zande had some special fighting tactics or fioghting art ...?!?). I could not be too much effective even for stabbing from behind.

25th November 2017, 08:28 PM	#4
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Sorry for the keying mistakes --- not me, but it could not be effective for stabbing ...

25th November 2017, 10:00 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Many of the sickle swords had the function of going around the enormous shields of the various peoples of the region. Eventually, they became status symbols. Some of the heavier Ngombe/Ngbandi ones were even used as executioner's swords I believe.

26th November 2017, 10:27 AM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,164	Sorry, double post!