African reproductions?

[Flavio]

Dear friend, I notice that among the african weapons there are few fakes (or, anyway, modern reproductions). This fact is quite strange, because, as i can see from the other threads, in other “field”, as south east asia (kris) and, above all, chinese weapons. The explanation of this thing maybe is due to the fact that in many african countries there are very difficult situations (war, famine). But, some days ago on ebay, i have found these two strange swords: one is what seems to be a kuba ilwoon and the other seems a luba short sword, but only the general shape is similar to the original swords, the characteristics are very different. What is very strange is the scabbard that is quite identical between these two, but completely different from original (the ilwoon scabbard is, normally, made of raffia and also the luba scabbards are different). So my question is: could be these two fakes (or reproductions)? Or they are some variants of the normal type that we can see on the books?
Maybe they could be only a modern evolution of the traditional weapons.

[Flavio]

A good kuba ilwoon and a luba short sword

[Tim Simmons]

Hi Flavio, A very good point to raise. There is tourist work rather than fakes. I personally think that the use of basic materials and simply made things of Africa, I do not mean crude, are probably very hard to fake, there being little to play on the eye. Also any real popular interest in what, may I call "black Africa" has only developed in the later part of the 20th century. Also in terms of say India, they are not what some collectors consider old. Some pieces are still made today for local use at festivals but have lost thier gravitas and are now just representations of the past. In the not too distant past African weapons were often seen at best as amusing but savage curios and at worst as rubbish. This is changing as you can see from some current prices which may be a good thing, on the other hand it will mean having to look somewhere else for weapons to collect on a relatively low budget, but where Tim

[Tim Simmons]

I think the relative weakness and inability of the cultures to record any written history has a bearing. Also one must not forget that many of the tribal groups from the Congo like that of the Amazon no longer exist. Up until the mid 20th century the value of native people in the way of progress was similar to that of rabbits. Tim

[VANDOO]

I HAVE SEEN PILES OF AFRICAN WEAPONS IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE WORLD OVER THE YEARS AND MOST APPEARED TO BE LOW GRADE RECENT EXAMPLES MADE IN TRADITIONAL FASHION. SOME APPEARED TO HAVE OLER BLADES WITH A NEWER POORLY MADE HANDLE ARTIFICIALLY AGED. THERE ARE ALSO MANY EXAMPLES THAT HAVE HAD CARVED HEADS FOR POMMELS AND FANCY SCABBARDS THAT DON'T FIT WITH THE ORIGINAL FORMS BUT APPEAL MORE TO TOURISTS. I SUSPECT THAT NATIVE PRODUCTION STILL GOES ON IN SEVERAL COUNTRYS NOTEABALY THE CONGO AND ZAIRE. THERE WERE TONS OF STUFF AT THE FLEA MARKETS IN SEVERAL PLACES MOST NOTEABLY PARIS FRANCE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. IT EVEN SHOWS UP IN TUSON FOR THE BIG GEM AND MINERAL SHOW AS WELL AS FLEA MARKETS IN TEXAS. GOOD QUALITY AUTHENTIC AFRICAN SWORDS ARE TO BE FOUND BUT ARE MORE RARE AND EXPENSIVE THAN THE OTHER MORE RECENT ONES. IT IS OFTEN POSSIBLE TO PICK UP GOOD NEWER REPRESENTATIONS OF SEVERAL INTERESTING FORMS FOR WHAT IT WOULD COST FOR ONE OF THE REAL OLD ONES. IF YOU CAN FIND A HONEST DEALER IN THE NEWER STUFF WHO SELLS IT FOR WHAT IT IS INSTEAD OF A RARE ANTIQUE, YOU CAN MAKE A NICE DISPLAY. I SUPPOSE THEY ARE ETHINOGRAPHIC CONSIDERING WHERE THEY ARE MADE AND ARE MOSTLY FOR EXPORT TO WHERE THE TOURISTS CAN BUY THEM INSTEAD OF FOR WAR OR CEREMONY AND OTHER OLDER TRADITIONAL USES.

[Flavio]

Hello Vandoo, could you post some pictures of what you think that is made for tourists and what is newer? Thank you