Currency blade
Lokele, Turumbu and neighboring peoples,
Lomami and Lualaba Rivers, Democratic Republic of the Congo
19th century
Iron
H. 177.8 cm (70 in.)
National Museum of African Art, museum purchase, 83-3-14
A blacksmith's specialized ability to forge iron into ritual objects, implements and weapons is highly valued in central Africa. This blade (liganda), forged by a Turumbu blacksmith, was used mainly as bride price and in the purchase of canoes.