This province extends from southern Sudan to northern D.R.
Congo and eastern Central African Republic. The north is desert,
the east alternates between marsh and wooded savannah, and
the southeast is predominantly dense savannah dotted with
forest areas. The main producers and users of throwing knives in
this region all practically disappeared over one hundred and
twenty years ago. The Kreish, Sere, Belanda, Bongo, and Adio
were victims of Turkish-Arab incursions in search of ivory and
slaves from 1820 to 1900, and also the Mahdist movement and
war.
Certain groups were “zandéised” like the Adio and Bombeh
(Makraka or “Niam-Niam”), while others aligned with Banda
ethnicities.
The accounts of the first explorers describe throwing knives at
Bahr el-Ghazal in the region of the White Nile, and assert they
were collected from the « Niam-Niam. » The Kreish, Lwo, and
Zande from the northeast are described as good blacksmiths,
as well as the Bongo and Adio, who are distinguished by their
talent as engravers. The Sere are considered by the Zande to be
the « inventors » of metallurgy.
Here the shape is the Z, and the knives measure 40 to 48cm and
weigh around 500g. They are called pere by the Kreish, mokoongo
by the Bongo, kpinga by the Zande of Mbomu, and gangoo or
gangata by the Zande of the northeast. The handles are made of
braided rope, sometimes covered or replaced by leather or even
reptile skin (monitor lizard, crocodile). Prestige models have ivory
handles.
These throwing knives were, it seems, primarily used as a hand
weapons. The full armament consisted of lances, spears, and
curved mambele knives. The northeastern Zande and Kreish used
the bow. Shields were similar to those of the Zande and leather
models like those of the northern tribes (Dinka, Shilluk, Nuer,
and Lwo) were probably also used. The circulation of throwing
knives in this province makes their exact origin difficult to
determine except when engravings are present (Bongo, Adio)
or when they show a stylistic association with certain Banda
models (Golo).
