Sword from Angola. Chokwe, Salampasu?

werecow · 13th February 2025, 08:01 PM

I think you may be right. The pommel "stalk" on my own yaka knife is kind of loose. I can't quite make out how it's connected but what seems to be leather around wood is very worn in that part and a bit torn, and there is significant movement between the stalk and the rest of the grip.

Ian · 16th February 2025, 12:41 AM

I have one that is very close to Tim's museum example. It appears to have some age. The leather is very thin and covers a light wooden sheath. The leather work was well done but has split in places with age.

The blade has a longitudinal groove down the middle on each side, flanked by multiple small linear marks. The metal (bronze?) hilt is constructed similar to other examples shown here. In hand, I estimate the age of this sword at about 100 years, so early 20th C or possibly late 19th C.

The weather was not very cooperative today for photographing today. If anyone needs better quality pics, please let me know.

This one came from a Swiss auction house in Basel. It was listed as a Yaka Ceremonial Sword and said to be called "mbeeli ya phoko."

Quote:

Item Details

Description

Kurz-Schwert mit Scheide, "mbeeli ya phoko"
Yaka, Suku, DR Kongo
Ohne Sockel / without base
Eisen, Wood, Leder, Bronze. H 66 cm.

Provenienz:
Schweizer Privatsammlung, Genf.

Zeremonialwaffen zeichnen sich durch sorgfältige Herstellung und dekorative Gestaltung, z.B. der Verzierung mit wertvollen Materialien wie Kupfer, Bronze, Elfenbein oder Fell, aus.

Die ursprünglich Funktion ist damit eingeschränkt, so dass eine Verwendung als Kampfwaffe nicht mehr im Vordergrund steht. Vielmehr signalisieren sie den sozialen Status und die Macht des Trägers und sind damit eher Kult-, Prunk-, Würde- und Statuswaffen die auch im Tauschhandel Verwendung fanden.

Weiterführende Literatur:
Cornet, Joseph-Aurelien / Dewey, William Dr. / Dubrunfaut, P. / Elsen, Jan / Felix, Marc L. / Gosseau, Christian / Schoonheyt, Jacques / van Noten, Francis (1992). Beauté fatale. Armes d'Afrique centrale. Galerie du Crédit Communal. Crédit Communal, Bruxelles.

.

werecow · 16th February 2025, 01:02 AM

Mine is similar as well (seller's pics since it's too dark here to take pictures atm).

gp · 16th February 2025, 02:30 AM

here are 2 nice Yakas from my collection, although the one on the right has found a new owner ( happy to transfer it to a fellow forum member where it fits better in his collection)

Pertinax · 16th February 2025, 01:24 PM

Yaka with swords

Pertinax · 17th February 2025, 04:42 PM

Got the sword.

Well, what can I say – a real African gladius.

In general, the sword pleasantly surprised me with its quality of manufacture. If you don’t take into account swords with European blades, then, perhaps, such quality of forging is rare for Africa, except for Berber fleece.

A fully functional item, definitely not a souvenir.

Overall length – 580 mm, blade length – 455 mm, blade thickness – 6-7 mm, weight – 508 g

The wooden handle is covered with leather. Upon careful inspection, I came to the conclusion that the pommel could have been in the shape of a cone, but was broken off during use.

In the thread about Baule http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8143, participants expressed the opinion that the handle has nails for upholstery from the 19th century, clearly of European manufacture. Looking at swords with similar decor on the handle, I thought that the items were made +/- at the same time and in the same region, by different tribes. Such nails are not found on later items.

As a version - at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, traders brought a batch of nails for upholstery to this region, and local blacksmiths began to use them in decorating swords.

What are the opinions?

Ian · 17th February 2025, 05:00 PM

Nice sword Pertinax, and the patina on the hilt and blade do suggest some age. The presence of these upholstery nails does seem to indicate a late 19th/early 20th C foreign influence. Perhaps it was simpler (and cheaper) to use brass nails to embellish the hilts rather than some of the traditional cast brass/bronze elements. There appears to be residue from an old polishing compound between and around the nails, again an influence from outside the culture.

13th February 2025, 08:01 PM	#1
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 553	I think you may be right. The pommel "stalk" on my own yaka knife is kind of loose. I can't quite make out how it's connected but what seems to be leather around wood is very worn in that part and a bit torn, and there is significant movement between the stalk and the rest of the grip. Attached Images

16th February 2025, 01:02 AM	#3
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 553	Mine is similar as well (seller's pics since it's too dark here to take pictures atm). Attached Images

16th February 2025, 02:30 AM	#4
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 823	here are 2 nice Yakas from my collection, although the one on the right has found a new owner ( happy to transfer it to a fellow forum member where it fits better in his collection) Attached Images

16th February 2025, 01:24 PM	#5
Pertinax Member Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: City by the Black Sea Posts: 218	Yaka with swords Attached Images

17th February 2025, 04:42 PM	#6
Pertinax Member Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: City by the Black Sea Posts: 218	Got the sword. Well, what can I say – a real African gladius. In general, the sword pleasantly surprised me with its quality of manufacture. If you don’t take into account swords with European blades, then, perhaps, such quality of forging is rare for Africa, except for Berber fleece. A fully functional item, definitely not a souvenir. Overall length – 580 mm, blade length – 455 mm, blade thickness – 6-7 mm, weight – 508 g The wooden handle is covered with leather. Upon careful inspection, I came to the conclusion that the pommel could have been in the shape of a cone, but was broken off during use. In the thread about Baule http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8143, participants expressed the opinion that the handle has nails for upholstery from the 19th century, clearly of European manufacture. Looking at swords with similar decor on the handle, I thought that the items were made +/- at the same time and in the same region, by different tribes. Such nails are not found on later items. As a version - at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, traders brought a batch of nails for upholstery to this region, and local blacksmiths began to use them in decorating swords. What are the opinions? Attached Images

17th February 2025, 05:00 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,360	Nice sword Pertinax, and the patina on the hilt and blade do suggest some age. The presence of these upholstery nails does seem to indicate a late 19th/early 20th C foreign influence. Perhaps it was simpler (and cheaper) to use brass nails to embellish the hilts rather than some of the traditional cast brass/bronze elements. There appears to be residue from an old polishing compound between and around the nails, again an influence from outside the culture.