Trumbash (Emambele) Sickle Knife
Mangbetu People
Uéle District, Orientale Province, Congo Free State - Belgian Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Late 19th - Early 20th century (ca. 1900)
Iron, steel wire, wood
Blade: 20,3cm
Hilt & Blade: 40,6cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2023
Collection Number: 324

A trumbash "sickle knife," also known as an emambele, is a symbolic object of rank within the Mangbetu and surrounding peoples. Trumbash are also used as a form of currency, and their styles of blacksmithing can vary with the angle of the blade, protrusions, holes, materials, and decoration.
The hand forged sickle shaped blade is expressly flaired to its tip with a squared, strong central ridge. Two protrusions at the base with three circular cut holes. Wood carved cylindrical hilt with a thick pommel. Steel wire is wrapped around the grip handle.

• Fischer, Werner. Zirngibl, Manfred. “African Weapons”. 1978. Page 66, Cat. 96

• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af-8347

• https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/330801

• http://www.africanarms.com/gallery?8-mangbetu-4-40-cm

• https://www.ertribal.com/index.php/tribal-art/archive/nagata-prestige-blade-mangbetu-dr-congo

• http://vikingsword.com/lew/w0187/w0187.html