Ceremonial Court Sword "Mopamba"

Origin: Poto Tribe, D.R. Congo
Composition: forged iron, wood, brass

This ceremonial sword originates from the Poto tribe in the D.R. Congo. Long to have been considered the most formidable blacksmiths in the area, the influence of the Poto and Ngombé tribe's metalwork and innovative design has spread to many of the neighboring tribes. Swords with a heavy influence from these two realted groups can be found among the Doko, the Mbudja, the Ngbaka, the Mongo, the Bangala, the Yakoma, and the Ngbandi (Ref: Elsen, "De fer et de fierté").

The 19th century photograph (left) depicts "Mobanza," the elderly chief of Umango, and is © Vancampenhout, Royal Museum of the Army and of Military History, Brussels.