This striking weapon was crafted by the Songye people (which I found out is what modern day Congolese refer to as the “Basonge”) of the Democratic Republic of Congo, whose elaborate shape and craftsmanship was symbolic of the authority and power held by the local chief. More than a ceremonial object, it was used in grim executions: the executioner would tie the head of the prisoner to a bent tree branch, and with one swift decapitation, the tension of the branch would fling the head into the forest.
It is such a shame that parts of our history and craftsmanship are no longer present in our homeland. Many of those weapons were taken during the time of colonization, and today pieces like this one are kept very far away—for example, this one is kept in the St. Louis Art Museum located in Missouri, USA.
I’ve been to the National Museum of Congo countless times and I’ve never seen these weapons.
