Knife / Currency – Metal, Wood – Ekonda – Congo

Beautiful knife from the Ekonda tribe of D.R. Congo.
Very nice specimen with great patina!
Knives, axes, currency blades and spears, all made of forged iron, attest to the skills in metal of the Kuba and related peoples of central Africa. Most exhibit an inventive variety of form and workmanship far beyond what was functionally necessary.
It was also used as a means of exchange: ” Currency”. The owner of this item was given some form of social status.