An Early Shi Sword
Shi / Havu / Tutsi / Hutu
Congo Free State (Democratic Republic of the Congo) - Kingdom of Rwanda - German East Africa (Rwanda - Burundi)
Late 19th century (ca. 1880 - 1900)
Wood, iron, vegetal fiber
Blade: 57,8cm
Hilt & Blade: 70,5cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 76,2cm
Collection Date: 2021
Collection Number: 172
An ealy sword from the Shi or surrounding people of the South Kivu Region, Rwanda, and Burundi. Historically, this area was split between colonial Belgium and German East Africa encompassing Lake Kivu. Other peoples include the Tutsi and Huti, which carry the same style swords.
This example is an early one, late 19th century. The straight iron blade is double- edged with a strong and thick medial ridge. Oxidized now, but still with a hefty mass. The hilt is composed of a dark patinated hardwood hilt, simplistic in design. The sheath is two pieces of wood held together by eight sections of vegetal fiber rattan bands. Carved belt loop, now missing the leather strap. A nice old example with a heavy blade.
“Beaute Fatale”. 1992. Page 195: #331
W. O. Oldman, “Illustrated Catalogue of Ethnographic Specimens”. April 1906: List No. 37; Item #13 (8929)
https://prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-93430