Swords a la Portuguese ... Part two

fernando · 5th September 2017, 04:32 PM

The Kongo kingdom was defined by the mutation process where European elements were incorporated in domestic culture.
Portuguese arrived in Congo in 1482 and soon converted the local monarchs to Christianty. The first monarch to be baptized was Nzinga-a-Nkuwu, with Christian name João I in 1491. The process went smoothly because the Christian elements called for domestic ideas on their own ideology. Afonso I (1509-1540), the secong king converted to christianty, had seen this well, and confirmed his power for the Europeans and for the domestic population by the setting up with catholicism. The European elite symbol, the sword, was taken over. Together with the crucifix, these two European elements have certainly incorporated most of the habits of the Bakongo (Wannyn 1961, 67).
Deceased Kongo monarchs were found buried with these swords in a Christian attitude.
The symbolism behind the sword for the Bakongo is reduced to the domestic ideas concerning iron and their own theology which was reflected in the form of the sword. Also the rituals which were carried out with the swords reflected this symbolism; in any case the swords came initially from Europe. At the time of the Portugese, European swords were used. Later these became scarcer and domestic copies started being made.
The last soba to have a portuguese Christian name was Soba Nkanga-a-Lukeni, Garcia II (1641-1661). This adds to two centuries of culture blending.

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Pieje · 25th October 2017, 01:55 PM

These are indeed what they call “ethnographical Mbele a Lulendo swords”, based on the Portuguese swords introduced at the Bakongo kingdom as early as end of 15th century.
First the original Portuguese swords, than imported European blades (Germany, Italy..), later fully locally made. These had a great symbolic function and were used by chiefs, often buried with them after their death, as those found in Kindoki (Bas-Congo).
Later these were placed next to the tomb of a dead chief, which resulted in the loss of the lower part of the blade. I once owned three of these rare swords, but I only kept one in my collection.

fernando · 25th October 2017, 04:41 PM

Thank you Pieje,
I see that you confirm the prior introduction to these swords origin.
The two examples you posted are apparently fully localy made. Tell me, which is the one you still have with you ?

Pieje · 25th October 2017, 11:00 PM

This one with (dark) ivory handle and locally made blade.

Pieje · 25th October 2017, 11:03 PM

However I suspect the other one to have a European blade?

fernando · 17th December 2017, 08:24 PM

Part 3 continues HERE

5th September 2017, 04:32 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	More on the history of these colonial swords ... The Kongo kingdom was defined by the mutation process where European elements were incorporated in domestic culture. Portuguese arrived in Congo in 1482 and soon converted the local monarchs to Christianty. The first monarch to be baptized was Nzinga-a-Nkuwu, with Christian name João I in 1491. The process went smoothly because the Christian elements called for domestic ideas on their own ideology. Afonso I (1509-1540), the secong king converted to christianty, had seen this well, and confirmed his power for the Europeans and for the domestic population by the setting up with catholicism. The European elite symbol, the sword, was taken over. Together with the crucifix, these two European elements have certainly incorporated most of the habits of the Bakongo (Wannyn 1961, 67). Deceased Kongo monarchs were found buried with these swords in a Christian attitude. The symbolism behind the sword for the Bakongo is reduced to the domestic ideas concerning iron and their own theology which was reflected in the form of the sword. Also the rituals which were carried out with the swords reflected this symbolism; in any case the swords came initially from Europe. At the time of the Portugese, European swords were used. Later these became scarcer and domestic copies started being made. The last soba to have a portuguese Christian name was Soba Nkanga-a-Lukeni, Garcia II (1641-1661). This adds to two centuries of culture blending. . Attached Images

25th October 2017, 01:55 PM	#2
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	These are indeed what they call “ethnographical Mbele a Lulendo swords”, based on the Portuguese swords introduced at the Bakongo kingdom as early as end of 15th century. First the original Portuguese swords, than imported European blades (Germany, Italy..), later fully locally made. These had a great symbolic function and were used by chiefs, often buried with them after their death, as those found in Kindoki (Bas-Congo). Later these were placed next to the tomb of a dead chief, which resulted in the loss of the lower part of the blade. I once owned three of these rare swords, but I only kept one in my collection. Attached Images

25th October 2017, 11:00 PM	#4
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	This one with (dark) ivory handle and locally made blade. Attached Images

25th October 2017, 11:03 PM	#5
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	However I suspect the other one to have a European blade? Attached Images

25th October 2017, 04:41 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you Pieje, I see that you confirm the prior introduction to these swords origin. The two examples you posted are apparently fully localy made. Tell me, which is the one you still have with you ?

17th December 2017, 08:24 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Part 3 continues HERE