looking for information on African spear

VANDOO · 3rd March 2009, 03:13 AM

I AM LOOKING FOR SOME INFORMATION ON THIS UNUSUAL AFRICAN SPEAR. I SUSPECT IT IS FOR CEREMONIAL USE BUT IT IS STURDY ENOUGH TO BE USED AS WELL. IT IS AROUND 66 INCHES LONG OVERALL, THE SPEAR POINT IS SOCKETED AND IS 12.5 IN. LONG X 2.5 IN WIDE, THE CENTER PIECE IS WOOD WRAPPED WITH COPPER WIRE AND FLAT COPPER SHEETING. THE BUTSPIKE IS STEEL AND HAS A CLOSED SOCKET AND IS 32 IN. LONG. IT IS LONG AND THIN AND LIGHT WEIGHT.
I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION OR OPINIONS ON ITS ORIGIN AND USE.

Tim Simmons · 3rd March 2009, 05:42 PM

The copper wrap reminds me of a spear I have which in "waffen aus zentral-Africa" is said to be Nkutshu, Tetela. It also has a long spike but my spear is all copper and the blade is different but the wrap is exactly the same.

Freddy · 3rd March 2009, 07:20 PM

My guess is that the spearhead is Konda and is a later addition. The Konda have weapons with all kinds of odd shapes.

The shaft look genuine, like Tim said.

Here two weapons from the book 'Standing on Ceremony - Traditional African Arms from the Donna L. and Robert H. Jackson Collection ' . In the book the tribe is a called 'Ekonda'. Look at the similarity, especially with the first weapon.

3rd March 2009, 03:13 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	looking for information on African spear I AM LOOKING FOR SOME INFORMATION ON THIS UNUSUAL AFRICAN SPEAR. I SUSPECT IT IS FOR CEREMONIAL USE BUT IT IS STURDY ENOUGH TO BE USED AS WELL. IT IS AROUND 66 INCHES LONG OVERALL, THE SPEAR POINT IS SOCKETED AND IS 12.5 IN. LONG X 2.5 IN WIDE, THE CENTER PIECE IS WOOD WRAPPED WITH COPPER WIRE AND FLAT COPPER SHEETING. THE BUTSPIKE IS STEEL AND HAS A CLOSED SOCKET AND IS 32 IN. LONG. IT IS LONG AND THIN AND LIGHT WEIGHT. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION OR OPINIONS ON ITS ORIGIN AND USE. Attached Images

3rd March 2009, 05:42 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,824	The copper wrap reminds me of a spear I have which in "waffen aus zentral-Africa" is said to be Nkutshu, Tetela. It also has a long spike but my spear is all copper and the blade is different but the wrap is exactly the same.

3rd March 2009, 07:20 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	My guess is that the spearhead is Konda and is a later addition. The Konda have weapons with all kinds of odd shapes. The shaft look genuine, like Tim said. Here two weapons from the book 'Standing on Ceremony - Traditional African Arms from the Donna L. and Robert H. Jackson Collection ' . In the book the tribe is a called 'Ekonda'. Look at the similarity, especially with the first weapon.