IDNO

P.7203.ACH1

Description

On Catalogue Card: Boy with large spear head (ngbele).

The object in the photograph is similar to object e 1908.93 in CUMAA collection. Although they resemble spear heads, they are too large and fragile to be effective as weapons. They were important objects of exchange for the Topoke people of the Lomaimi River. Used mainly in marriage transactions or purchasing canoes, and with agreed exchange value according to size, at the beginning of the twentieth century ten of these would have purchased a large war canoe [label for object in exhibition, Mark Elliott, May 2005]

Place

C Africa; Democratic Republic of Congo; northern Congo

Cultural Affliation

Lokele

Named Person

Photographer

Smith, Kenred (Rev.)

Collector / Expedition

Date

circa 1895 - 1914

Collection Name

Mounted Haddon Collectionvon Hugel Collection

Source

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

CUMAA Exhibition: Photograph exhibited in “Currency in Africa”, hosted from June 2005-February 2006, captioned “Boy holding an ngbele, a large spear head. The photograph suggests that their impressive size made them important objects of display”.

Publication: Cut out of image published in Sutton Smith, H., 1911?. Yakusu, the very heart of Africa: being some account of the Protestant mission at Stanley Falls, Upper Congo. (Marshall Brothers Ltd., London), opposite p.18, and captioned:
"Lokele Currency.
A 'shondu' (axe-head), value 5d.
A 'ngbele' (axe-head), valu 10/6.
Photo by Rev. K. Smith." [Full text available at archive.org/.../yakusuveryhearto00smit/yakusuveryhearto00smit_djvu.txt, JD 21/2/2014]