Tonga / BaTonga Ceremonial Axe
$600.00
Zambezi Valley African traditional ceremonial axe with a hand-forged steel blade and haft made of mopane tree.
Origin: Zambezi Valley Peoples (Southern Africa, Zimbabwe)
Time Period: 20th Century
Provenance: UK, Auction House
Materials: Wood, Steel
Length: 24in
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Description
Ceremonial Axe
This small axe originates from the Zambezi Valley of the Tonga / BaTonga people.
The BaTonga people of Zimbabwe are found in and around the Binga District, Binga village the Kariba area, some parts of Matabeleland. Tonga people are also in southern Zambia and to a lesser extent, in Mozambique. (wiki).
Similar axes are displayed at the Batonga Museum in Zimbabwe.
This axe had/has many functions within the Tonga people. It had a symbolic meaning, it was used for special ceremonies 
and secret rituals. Furthermore, the axe was a general-purpose tool for cutting meat after a successful hunt.
One source (Orbit p.19) labels it as Tonga Valley Executioner’s axe:
Tonga Axe Description
Zambezi Valley African traditional ceremonial axe with a hand-forged steel blade and haft made of mopane tree.
The steel blade has a simple repeating incised decoration
The blade shows signs of previous rust and pitting
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