# ETHNOTRIBALART > Discover African throwing knives ## Pages - [THE KUBA, NKUTSHU AND THEIR NEIGHBORS](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-kuba-nkutshu-and-their-neighbors/): This stylistic province is located in the center and center-east ofthe D.R. Congo, in the Kasaï region. The dominant group is the Kuba(Bushoong, Shoowa, Ngongo, Ngeende, and Pyaang), whoinfluence their neighbors: Lele, Wongo, and Kete. Farther northare the Ndengese and to the east are the Nkutshu. This regionis covered with tropical rain forest to the north and woodedsavannah to the south.The history of the Kuba is well known; their origin is believed to befurther north around the Kingdom of Kongo, or even farthernorthwest, at the southeastern border of Cameroon.The resemblance between certain throwing knives from the Sanghabasin is uncanny. The […] - [THE TRIBES OF THE DAR FERTIT AND BAHR EL-GHAZAL](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-tribes-of-the-dar-fertit-and-bahr-el-ghazal/): 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, andthe southeast is predominantly dense savannah dotted withforest areas. The main producers and users of throwing knives inthis region all practically disappeared over one hundred andtwenty years ago. The Kreish, Sere, Belanda, Bongo, and Adiowere victims of Turkish-Arab incursions in search of ivory andslaves from 1820 to 1900, and also the Mahdist movement andwar.Certain groups were “zandéised” like the Adio and Bombeh(Makraka or “Niam-Niam”), while others aligned with Bandaethnicities.The accounts of the first explorers describe […] - [THE TRIBES OF THE UELE MBOMU: ZANDE, NZAKARA, YAKOMA, NGBANDI](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-tribes-of-the-uele-mbomu-zande-nzakara-yakoma-ngbandi/): Occupying the basin of the Uele and Mbomou Rivers, this stylisticprovince extends to the Central African Republic in the north,the D.R. Congo in the south, and southern South Sudan in the east.The north is covered with savannah dotted with forests and the southwith dense tropical forests. The Zande people populate the east,the Nzakara the west, and the Yakoma the southwest. The dominantZande clan is the Avongara (Vongara, Avungara), who assimilated byconquest of their neighboring tribes: Barambo, Adio, Sere, Kare,Momvu, Medje, Mangbele, and certain Banda and Bandia groups(Rafaï), hence a certain « Zandéisation » of the region. In the west,there were three kingdoms: […] - [THE BANDA](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-banda/): This province extends over a large part of the Central AfricanRepublic and spills over the Congolese bank of the Ubangi River inthe south. The north is covered with dry savannah, the center is morewooded, and the south is a dense savannah dotted with forest areas.The Banda tribes occupy this vast territory. Fleeing the slave raids ofthe Wadaï, these groups that originated from the Haute-Kotto andthe Ndélé plateau migrated south: first the Yangere and the Mbanjain the south-west (1830-1850), then the Mbugbu, Langba, Langbase,and Dakpa in the south-east territory that borders the Nzakara(1850) then the Togbo, Ndri, Ngao, and Yakpa (1850-1860). […] - [THE TRIBES AMONG THE CONGO-UBANGI: GBAYA, NGBAKA, NGBANDI, NGOMBE, MBANJA](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-tribes-among-the-congo-ubangi-gbaya-ngbaka-ngbandi-ngombe-mbanja/): This province extends from the south bank of the Ubangi Riverto the north and south banks of the Congo River, forminga triangular area that contains highlands and savannas to the northand tropical forests interspersed with dense savannas to the south.The Gbaya-Ngbaka (Ngbaka-Gbaya, Ngbaka-Minagende) occupythe center of this region, the Ngbandi dominate in the east tothe Uele River, and the Mbanja (a Banda vassal tribe of the Ngbandi)inhabit the northwest. The Ngombe (Mabinza, Doko, Poto, andMbudja) extend south on both sides of the Congo River. Smallergroups like the Mono-Gobu, Mbati, Lobala, and Nzombo are spreadout along the Ubangi River from upstream […] - [THE MANZA AND NGBAKA OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-manza-and-ngbaka-of-the-central-african-republic/): Extending to the central-western Central African Republic fromFort Crampel in the north to the south of Lobaye in Republic ofCongo, this stylistic province is made up of dense savannas andwooded valleys, with tropical forests to the south.The Manza in the north are very close to the Banda groups(Ngapu, Togbo) with whom they have long been in territorialconflicts. The center is occupied by the Ngbaka-Manza.The Ngbaka (Mbaka, Bwaka) are made up of two groups:the Ngbaka-Mabo in the center and on the banks of the Ubangiand the Ngbaka-Minagende in the south in the DR Congo.The Nzombo are an Ngbaka-Mabo group who are […] - [THE SOUTHERN GBAYA AND THEIR NEIGHBORS THE YANGERE, THE KAKA, THE MAKA](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-southern-gbaya-and-their-neighbors-the-yangere-the-kaka-the-maka/): This stylistic province is located between the Kadei and MambereRivers (both tributaries of the Sangha), straddling Cameroon,the Central African Republic, and the Republic of Congo.There are wooded savannas, dense forests in the south, andsome open areas.This is the territory of the Gbaya peoples: Gbaya Lai, GbayaMbodono, Gbaya Buli, Bosoko, Yangere Gbaya, Ngombe, Bokare,Biyanda, Budamono, and Bumbele.The Yangere are a group of Banda origin who migrated from DarBanda (1800-1820) and integrated with the Gbaya. They broughtthe design of the Banda’s ondo throwing knives with them, andcreated an entirely new throwing knife design after theirmigration. The Kaka, of Yangere origin, live between […] - [THE TRIBES OF THE OGOWE AND SANGHA BASIN](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-tribes-of-the-ogowe-and-sangha-basin/): These peoples occupy a very large region that extends fromsouthern Cameroon through Republic of Congo and Gabon.The knives of this province are divided into two groups: one inthe north, around the Sangha River and the other in the south,around the Ogowe River.It is a geographical area covered by forests interspersed withsavannas, with highlands in the south. The Sangha RegionI have included a knife from this region. Its shape is complexand it can be compared to that of a bird, just like many ofthe knives from this region, which are often compared to birds orthe beaks of birds (hornbill). Unfortunately, I […] - [THE NORTHERN GBAYA AND THEIR AREA OF INFLUENCE](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-northern-gbaya-and-their-area-of-influence/): This province extends across eastern Cameroon, westernCentral African Republic, northern Gabon, and northernCongo-Brazzaville. The Gbaya are the main inhabitants,comprised of a northern group known as the Kara (whoconsider themselves the « real » Gbaya), and a northeasterngroup including the Suma and Kare (who were influenced bythe Sara), Bokoto, Biyanda, Buli, Mbodomono, and Lai.To the south are Bangando [whose primary neighbors arethe Pomo (with Pol and Kwakum)], Bumali (Maka and Njem),and Gbaya Bokare.The northern region is covered by a high savannahinterspersed with rocky hills and dotted with wooded areas,while the southern region is densely forested with somewooded savannah areas.Although considered alongside throwing knives, […] - [THE SUDANESE NILE PEOPLE](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-sudanese-nile-people/): This province, located entirely in northern Sudan, extendseast to the Blue Nile, north almost to Meroe, and west intothe Kordofan region and eastern Darfur. There are the Fundj(Funj) in the north between the Blue Nile and the White Nileand the Hameg (Hamej), whose name has the same meaningas that of the Kirdi, who live in the region of Dar Fung andthe Blue Nile Valley. The Nilotic tribes – Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk,Burun, Jumjum, and Medan – live in stretches along the WhiteNile. The Nuba live southeast of Kordofan. The Ingessana(Uduk, Berta) occupy the Tabi hills, and they are sometimesreferred to as […] - [THE TUBU-DAZA OF TIBESTI, ENNEDI AND BORNU AND THE WADAÏ POPULATIONS](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-tubu-daza-of-tibesti-ennedi-and-bornu-and-the-wadai-populations/): This province is vast and extends from the east of Lake Chadto the northern border of Chad (even encroaching slightly intoNiger) and east to the border of Sudan. The Saharan populationsoccupying this area are numerous: Maba, Tama, Mimi, and Dadjo;the Tubu-Daza are the most predominant. The Tubu occupythe north of this region and the Daza the south. The Tubuof Tibesti are also called Teda. The term Beri includesthe Zaghawa and Baele from this province, as well as the Kanuriand Kanembu, who were studied in stylistic province 1.The Maba and Masalit (a Maba group) occupy the formerSultanate of Wadaï. The Tama, […] - [THE MASALIT AND THEIR NEIGHBORS IN DARFUR](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-masalit-and-their-neighbors-in-darfur/): This vast province covers the Darfur region of Sudan andencroaches into eastern Chad. As in the previous province,we find the populations of the Maba group, especially theMasalit living in Wadaï, the Dadjo in Darfur, the Zaghawa ofthe Berti group, and the Fur occupying Darfur. The Nubianethnic groups are represented by the Midob and Birgid, whoare a caste of blacksmiths like the haddad, who produceweapons for the Masalit and Fur.The region is covered in desert and mountains, except for inthe southwest, where there is sparse vegetation.Unlike those of the previous province, the knives here are flatand therefore thinner (3 mm), which […] - [THE KIRDI OF THE MANDARA MOUNTAINS AND THEIR SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-kirdi-of-the-mandara-mountains-and-their-southern-neighbors/): These populations are distributed in the northwest of Cameroon,straddling the eastern border of Nigeria. The group is borderedin the north by Lake Chad and in the south by the Adamawaplateau. The term Kirdi, which means « barbarian pagans »,is used for the tribes in the north of this region, whereasthe word Fali applies to the tribes living south of the Mandaramountains and north of the Adamawa plateau.Ethnic groups using throwing knives are numerous: Mandara,Wandala, Lamang, Guduf, Podoko, Dghwede, Muktele (Matal),Sukur, Matakam (Mafa), Mada, Zulgo, Gemjek, Mofu, Margi, Higi,Kapsiki, Djeny (Nzangi), and Bana. The Mandara Mountainsare a series of rocky ridges, hills, and […] - [THE SARA](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/the-sara-throwing-knife-knives-chad/): Occupying southern Chad, they are divided into two stylisticprovinces: the Sara of the Southeast and the North, and the Sara of the Southwest and their neighbors to the South and to the North. The Sara from the Southeast and the NorthThey are distributed in the regions of Chari-Baguirmi,Moyen-Chari, Tandjilé, and Mayo-Kebi, to the north to Bornuand south to Kanem. If we exclude the Laka and Ngambaye,they represent the totality of the Sara ethnic group: Madjingay,Gulay, Muzum, Nar, Daye, Mbaye, Gor, Ngama, Nduka, Kaba,Valé, Luto, Tele, Baguirmi, Kenga, Kuka, Bulala, and Medogo.This region of Lake Chad is recognized as the place […] - [AFRICAN THROWING KNIVES](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/throwing-knives/): Throwing knives from Central Africa Definition As their name suggests, these knives are meant to be thrown. They are classified in the category of offensive weapons. Their origin is purely African. They are comprised of a blade and a handle. Classically, the blade consists of a central axis supplemented by several branches, which increase the probability of contact with the target. It has a flat side, the back, and a convex side, the front, for better aerodynamics. It is made of iron, but there are also rare models in copper and brass. The handle located at the bottom of the […] - [AFRICAN SHIELDS](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/shields/): Shields from Central Africa used with the throwing knives Definition The shield is the ultimate defensive weapon. It is used to protect againstprojectiles such as spears, arrows, and throwing knives, but also fromsword and club attacks in close combat. Appearance The shape of the shield follows its function: for melee combat, it wouldbe small and manageable, and when needed to protect from projectiles,it would be large enough to provide reasonable shelter. Shields werewidespread in Africa and the materials used were varied: wood, rattan,leather, and iron.– Wooden shields are often carved as a single piece except when a handle,fashioned of a […] - [CULTURAL WEAPONERY SHOWCASE](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/cultural-weaponery-showcase/) - [BOOKS](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/books/): OSÉLÉ ONZIL   « Bird-head » knives from West-Central Africa  In collaboration with Jan Elsen 194 PAGES Both available in English or French Hardcover 22 cm x 29 cm Over 160 knives illustrated 80 € + 12 € de frais de port et d’emballage pour la France 80 € + 23 € postage and packing for Europe 80 € + 53 € postage for rest of the World If you would like to order, please contact me using the contact form at the bottom of the page. NGBANDI YAKOMA   Les armes traditionnelles – Traditional weapons 100 PAGES in English and French […] - [ABOUT](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/about-luc-lefebvre-a-collector-of-central-africa-throwing-knives/): My first African object, which I bought more than twenty-five years ago, was a throwing knife. I did not really knowwhat it was or where it came from. An oddly curved ironknife with several points…My curiosity awakened, I began researching to learnmore. I never imagined then that this interest wouldgrow into a passion for these strange knives with uniqueand varied shapes. What interested me first andforemost was the “art of the forms”: the Africanblacksmith’s ability and intelligence in shaping theseiron bars so that their silhouettes combined functionality,beauty and efficiency, all while producing a formidableweapon. These blacksmiths knew how to reconciletradition […] - [GALLERY](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/gallery/): THE SARA The Sara from the Southeast and the North The ponies of the Logone Adamawa region The southwest Sara and their neighbors in south and north THE KIRDI OF THE MANDARA MOUNTAINS AND THEIR SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS THE TUBU-DAZA OF TIBESTI, ENNEDI AND BORNU AND THE WADAÏ POPULATIONS THE MASALIT AND THEIR NEIGHBORS IN DARFUR THE SUDANESE NILE PEOPLE THE NORTHERN GBAYA AND THEIR AREA OF INFLUENCE THE TRIBES OF THE OGOWE AND SANGHA BASIN THE SOUTHERN GBAYA AND THEIR NEIGHBORS THE YANGERE, THE KAKA, THE MAKA THE MANZA AND NGBAKA OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC THE TRIBES AMONG THE […] - [ETHNOTRIBALART - AFRICAN THROWING KNIVES](https://palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/): Ethnotribalart Explore the rich heritage of African throwing knives and shields. African Throwing Knives Art As their name suggests, these knives are meant to be thrown. They are classified in the category of offensive weapons. The multi-bladed throwing knife is a purely African invention, often considered the culmination of the blacksmith’s skill. Other civilizations used throwing weapons such as axes, but without the sophistication found in Central Africa. They are comprised of a blade and a handle. Classically, the blade consists of a central axis supplemented by several branches, which increase the probability of contact with the target. It has […] ## Optional - [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/palegreen-rhinoceros-492191.hostingersite.com/mcp) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)