African short spear.

Spearcollector · 1st October 2006, 05:33 PM

Hello,
I'm a new member.
Can you help me with this short african spear.
the spear is 116 cm long.
I think it's 19 century.
I have looked for more information about this one, but I can't find it.
I would like to know more about.
Thanks.

Lew · 1st October 2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spearcollector

Hello,
I'm a new member.
Can you help me with this short african spear.
the spear is 116 cm long.
I think it's 19 century.
I have looked for more information about this one, but I can't find it.
I would like to know more about.
Thanks.

Welcome Spearcollector

Well this is how I see it. Your spear seems to be a hybrid the shaft is Kuba but the head seems to be a later addition from another spear. It still is a nice example though. Here is a similar one of mine.

Lew

Freddy · 1st October 2006, 08:27 PM

Welcome to the forum, Spearcollector.

Lew is right when stating that this spear is a 'marriage'. the shaft looks much older than the blade. I haven't seen this type of spearblade, yet. I'm still young, though

But, Lew, the shaft is not Kuba. It's a typical shaft used by the Ngbandi, Bati and/or Benge living in northwestern Congo.

Here is a Ngbandi spear in my collection :

Tim Simmons · 1st October 2006, 08:34 PM

I wonder if this is not a marriage between Central Africa/Congo and west or east Africa. I am taking a guess at perhaps areas west and north to the Sahara.

Spearcollector · 1st October 2006, 09:07 PM

Thanks for the reactions.
The spear blade looks younger because it is cleaned.
The shaft is a lot shorter than a normal ngbandi spear.
I'm very sure that the shaft and blade belongs together.
Maybe I must ask it to the African museum of tervuren.
Thanks anyway.

Flavio · 1st October 2006, 09:18 PM

I had a short ngbandi spear, now sold, that was long 120 cm.

Spearcollector · 1st October 2006, 09:29 PM

Hi,
The second and the third spear on this photo, are they ngbandi spears?
You can also see the short spear.
This is a very small part of my spear collection.

Mapico1 · 1st October 2006, 09:54 PM

Hi G and welcome!
To me 1,2,3,4,6,8,10 are Ngbandi spears or related.
5 is Lega,7 is Boa,9 is Lokele,last seems Saka.
Small one......let's leave that one open for a while.....

Lew · 1st October 2006, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mapico1

Hi G and welcome!
To me 1,2,3,4,6,8,10 are Ngbandi spears or related.
5 is Lega,7 is Boa,9 is Lokele,last seems Saka.
Small one......let's leave that one open for a while.....

I must tip my hat to you and Freddy I am still learning.

Lew

Tim Simmons · 2nd October 2006, 06:52 AM

I take it all back

. Seeing then all together like that I am sure its a good one. It just at first glance looked a little "unbalanced ?" I am sure a spear was a personal thing. The blade may have Saka influences. We have no idea what the users requirements were. Remember-

"there is always something new coming out of Africa" Pliny.

1st October 2006, 05:33 PM	#1
Spearcollector Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 11	African short spear. Hello, I'm a new member. Can you help me with this short african spear. the spear is 116 cm long. I think it's 19 century. I have looked for more information about this one, but I can't find it. I would like to know more about. Thanks. Attached Images

1st October 2006, 09:07 PM	#5
Spearcollector Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 11	African short spear Thanks for the reactions. The spear blade looks younger because it is cleaned. The shaft is a lot shorter than a normal ngbandi spear. I'm very sure that the shaft and blade belongs together. Maybe I must ask it to the African museum of tervuren. Thanks anyway.

1st October 2006, 09:18 PM	#6
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	I had a short ngbandi spear, now sold, that was long 120 cm. Attached Images

1st October 2006, 09:29 PM	#7
Spearcollector Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 11	Is this one also a Ngbandi spear??? Hi, The second and the third spear on this photo, are they ngbandi spears? You can also see the short spear. This is a very small part of my spear collection. Attached Images

1st October 2006, 09:54 PM	#8
Mapico1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	Ngbandi rules Hi G and welcome! To me 1,2,3,4,6,8,10 are Ngbandi spears or related. 5 is Lega,7 is Boa,9 is Lokele,last seems Saka. Small one......let's leave that one open for a while.....

1st October 2006, 08:27 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Welcome to the forum, Spearcollector. Lew is right when stating that this spear is a 'marriage'. the shaft looks much older than the blade. I haven't seen this type of spearblade, yet. I'm still young, though But, Lew, the shaft is not Kuba. It's a typical shaft used by the Ngbandi, Bati and/or Benge living in northwestern Congo. Here is a Ngbandi spear in my collection :

1st October 2006, 08:34 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	I wonder if this is not a marriage between Central Africa/Congo and west or east Africa. I am taking a guess at perhaps areas west and north to the Sahara.

2nd October 2006, 06:52 AM	#10
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	I take it all back . Seeing then all together like that I am sure its a good one. It just at first glance looked a little "unbalanced ?" I am sure a spear was a personal thing. The blade may have Saka influences. We have no idea what the users requirements were. Remember- "there is always something new coming out of Africa" Pliny.