Songye axes - different types

colin henshaw · 7th May 2021, 07:31 AM

Impressive axes Chris, thanks for posting. Great metalwork, presumably the iron and copper were sourced and smelted locally in the Congo ? Looking at the British Museum & Pitt-Rivers sites, they say these axes were often made by the Nsapo (a Songye sub-group) who specialised in metalwork.

As you say, apparently the ornate examples at least were insignia of chiefly rank; the carved faces to the iron representing the chief's people subordinate to him.

A noteworthy point about Congo axes is ... they don't really seem to have been used as weapons, whereas in Southern Africa they were.

Looking forward to more posts.

7th May 2021, 07:31 AM	#6
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Impressive axes Chris, thanks for posting. Great metalwork, presumably the iron and copper were sourced and smelted locally in the Congo ? Looking at the British Museum & Pitt-Rivers sites, they say these axes were often made by the Nsapo (a Songye sub-group) who specialised in metalwork. As you say, apparently the ornate examples at least were insignia of chiefly rank; the carved faces to the iron representing the chief's people subordinate to him. A noteworthy point about Congo axes is ... they don't really seem to have been used as weapons, whereas in Southern Africa they were. Looking forward to more posts. Last edited by colin henshaw; 7th May 2021 at 09:08 AM.