Songye axes - different types

[colin henshaw]

Originally Posted by Mefidk

Thanks Detlef, I know this site, it belongs to a member here (and I linked to it in the thread on Congo sword Id)
I guess what I am asking for is whether there is any more detailed information other than the identification as Songye group. There are the Nsapo axes and a few designated as eastern Songye or Songye/Luba, but it would be really neat to know what the tell-tale characteristics are. Maybe there is no answer. However, some people have been collecting these for much longer than me, maybe they know more and will chime in, even if its to say that there is no way to go deeper.

Chris, you would find a visit/contacting the Congo Museum in Tervuren, (near Brussels), very useful. There are "tribal art" monographs just on the Songye that should have information on weapons as well as culture, religion, symbolism etc.. I know of "Songye Masks & Figure Sculpture" by Dunja Hersak 1985 (difficult to get hold of). Often, African sculpture and such weapons can be interlinked.