mambele
{{Short description|African hybrid knife/axe}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2019}}
File:Mambele Af1949,46.560.jpg.]]
A mambele is a form of hybrid knife/axe in central and southern Africa, originating from a curved throwing dagger used by the Mangbetu.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
File:A selection of African throwing knives in room 25 of the British museum.JPG]]
Description
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Werpmes praalwapen en statussymbool TMnr 5633-55.jpg
The mambele consists of an iron blade with a curved back section and rearward spike. It can be used in close combat as a hatchet or dagger, or more typically as a throwing weapon. It usually consists of four blades, three on top and one on the side. The curved hook was used to keep the weapon in the victim, and if pulled out, caused further damage. It is about {{convert|56|cm|abbr=on}} in length.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} These African iron weapons are thrown with a rotatory motion, and can inflict deep wounds with their projecting blades.
The mambele is also known as:
- Hunga Munga{{Cite book|title=Human world : a visual compendium of wonders from human history|author=Wood, A. J.|others=Jolley, Mike,, Lozano, Andrés|isbn=9781847809926|location=Minneapolis, MN|pages=82|oclc=1021808923|date = 2018-09-04}}
- Danisco by the Marghi{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}{{Cite book |last=Cowper |first=H.S |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s2S-BAAAQBAJ&q=danisco+by+the+Marghi |title=The Art of Attack and the Development of Weapons |publisher=Andrews UK Limited |date=2012-03-30 |isbn=9781781503591 |language=English}}
- Goleyo by the Musgum{{Cite web |title=Chapter 12: Jua Cheza - Path of the Invincible Dragon |url=https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/42058/path-of-the-invincible-dragon/chapter/676741/chapter-12-jua-cheza |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=Royal Road |date=5 May 2021 |language=en}}
- Njiga by the Bagirmi{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
- Kpinga by the Zande. They were classed as "Court Metal", being produced under the patronage of the Avongara clan, distributed only to professional warriors, and considered status symbols. It was also part of the dowry that a man ought to pay to the bride's family.{{cite web |url=http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/weapons/index.php/tour-by-region/africa/africa/arms-and-armour-africa-18/index.html |title=Kpinga |publisher=Pitt-Rivers Museum |access-date=3 August 2011}} Soldiers would carry three or four{{clarify|reason= show us the plural, so we know whether it is has a regular english plural or not|date=June 2019}} into battle, hidden behind their shields. They were typically thrown at the enemy from {{convert|9|m|abbr=on}} away.{{cite web |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a28235/three-bladed-throwing-knife-kpinga/|title=This Three-Bladed Throwing Knife Will Never Miss |last=Thompson |first=Avery |date=September 15, 2017 |website=Popular Mechanics.com |access-date=December 12, 2017 }}
They vary constantly in form and their use extends across Africa, from the Upper Nile on the east through Central Africa and over to Gabon in West Africa. The "musri" or "mouzeri" throwing knife of the Teda people in the central Sahara is a variant. In parts of Central Africa these weapons assume the form of a bird's head.{{Cite web |title=Central Africa {{!}} History, Countries, Climate, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/central-Africa |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}
These knives reflect the culture of Africa before Western colonisation, both through their design and use. They can be symmetrical, bulbous, or even multi-pronged. Many are made of rarer and softer materials. These were harder to forge and were a status symbol to their owners.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- Poppe, Guido T. [https://web.archive.org/web/20050404191443/http://www.mambele.be/search_result.php?jczn=Throwing Collection of mambeles], Belgium
{{Africa Weapons}}
Category:Edged and bladed weapons
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