Ethnic Design Collection Reto Zehnder

An African sickle throwing knife called "Sengese" from Northern Cameroon. This type of weapon was used in Cameroon as well as in Nigeria. This knife has a heavy forged blade with carved decoration and has its original tribal patina. The handle is covered with a raphia rope. 

These small and thin currencies was widely used throughout Southern Chad and spread even into Niger. Quiggin suggest that the form is influenced by a hoe used in neighboring Darfur and Kodofan. " it was custom to give a certain amount of hoe currency to the fiancée and her father during the engagement ceremonies" (Vitoor p.79). Our collection was acquired during may stay in Chad from 1982 to 1986. They may have been forged by the Kaba, a sub group of the sara tribe. Several ethnic groups use different names: Kokio, Koké, Nari-dul, Lar-ndul, Senne.

Similar model spread among various ethnic groups around the mandara mountains in Northern Cameroon. The shape of the axe may represent a stylized head of a roster, a sacred animal among the Fali tribe

This item has been collected in 1982-84 in Southern Chad. According to Hamillton galery, these iron or brass forms were used by several peoples of No. Nigeria and Cameroon, including the Chamba, Mumuye, Mambila, Idoma and Montol. These forms were recognized and used as currency.

This item has been collected in 1982-84 in Southern Chad. According to Hamillton galery, these iron or brass forms were used by several peoples of No. Nigeria and Cameroon, including the Chamba, Mumuye, Mambila, Idoma and Montol. These forms were recognized and used as currency.

This item has been collected in 1982-84 in Southern Chad. According to Hamillton galery, these iron or brass forms were used by several peoples of No. Nigeria and Cameroon, including the Chamba, Mumuye, Mambila, Idoma and Montol. These forms were recognized and used as currency.

Very decorative kirdi currency

This throwing knife comes from the southeastern Sara, collected during my stay in Sahr in the 1980 ties. Southern Chad is believed by many to be the birthplace of the African throwing knife. Known as ngalio, these throwing knives were often carried in bunches of three or more in custom leather quivers. Unlike other African weapon-types where style trumps function, this is a purely functional form, used for fighting and hunting. They served as missiles with a range of up to 30 meters.

This throwing knife comes from the southeastern Chad, collected during my stay in Sahr in the 1980 ties. Southern Chad is believed by many to be the birthplace of the African throwing knife. Known as ngalio, these throwing knives were often carried in bunches of three or more in custom leather quivers. Unlike other African weapon-types where style trumps function, this is a purely functional form, used for fighting and hunting. They served as missiles with a range of up to 30 meters.

This throwing knife comes from the southeastern Chad, collected during my stay in Sahr in the 1980 ties. Southern Chad is believed by many to be the birthplace of the African throwing knife. Known as ngalio, these throwing knives were often carried in bunches of three or more in custom leather quivers. Unlike other African weapon-types where style trumps function, this is a purely functional form, used for fighting and hunting. They served as missiles with a range of up to 30 meters.

Collected during my stay in Sahr in the 1980 ties. Chad is believed by many to be the birthplace of the African throwing knife. Known as ngalio, these throwing knives were often carried in bunches of three or more in custom leather quivers. Unlike other African weapon-types where style trumps function, this is a purely functional form, used for fighting and hunting. They served as missiles with a range of up to 30 meters. The present throwing knife is probable of Teda ( a sub-group of the Tubu) origin.

This throwing knife comes from the southeastern  Chad, collected during my stay in Sahr in the 1980 ties. Southern Chad  is believed by many to be the birthplace of the African throwing knife. Known as ngalio, these throwing knives were often carried in bunches of three or more in custom leather quivers. Unlike other African weapon-types where style trumps function, this is a purely functional form, used for fighting and hunting. They served as missiles with a range of up to 30 meters.

This throwing knife comes from the southeastern  Sara, collected during my stay in Sahr in the 1980 ties. Southern Chad  is believed by many to be the birthplace of the African throwing knife. Known as ngalio, these throwing knives were often carried in bunches of three or more in custom leather quivers. Unlike other African weapon-types where style trumps function, this is a purely functional form, used for fighting and hunting. They served as missiles with a range of up to 30 meters.

Widely used in Southern Chad. these items were collected during my stay in the Moyen Chari Region in the 80 ties. The Kul shape can be date back to the neolithic rock paintings in the Sahara and to the more contemporary shape of the throwing knife used by the ethnic groups in Southern Chad both for hunting and fighting. They served to organize traditional ceremonies, pay local fines and up to 100 - 250 Kuls were needed for a marriage, but in the daily live they served to pay agricultural goods and services, pay fines. It is made out of  thin and light  wrought iron. The literature claims that the Kul was forged by the Ngama blacksmith and then distributed to various ethnic groups in Southern Chad.

Widely used in Southern Chad. these items were collected during my stay in the Moyen Chari Region in the 80 ties. The Kul shape can be date back to the neolithic rock paintings in the Sahara and to the more contemporary shape of the throwing knife used by the ethnic groups in Southern Chad both for hunting and fighting. They served to organize traditional ceremonies, pay local fines and up to 100 - 250 Kuls were needed for a marriage, but in the daily live they served to pay agricultural goods and services, pay fines. It is made out of  thin and light  wrought iron. The literature claims that the Kul was forged by the Ngama blacksmith and then distributed to various ethnic groups in Southern Chad.

Widely used in Southern Chad. these items were collected during my stay in the Moyen Chari Region in the 80 ties. The Kul shape can be date back to the neolithic rock paintings in the Sahara and to the more contemporary shape of the throwing knife used by the ethnic groups in Southern Chad both for hunting and fighting. They served to organize traditional ceremonies, pay local fines and up to 100 - 250 Kuls were needed for a marriage, but in the daily live they served to pay agricultural goods and services, pay fines. It is made out of  thin and light  wrought iron. The literature claims that the Kul was forged by the Ngama blacksmith and then distributed to various ethnic groups in Southern Chad. The "foot" is missing.

This item has been collected in 1982-84 in Southern Chad. According to Hamillton galery, these iron or brass forms were used by several peoples of No. Nigeria and Cameroon, including the Chamba, Mumuye, Mambila, Idoma and Montol. These forms were recognized and used as currency.

This item has been collected in 1982-84 in Southern Chad. According to Hamillton galery, these iron or brass forms were used by several peoples of No. Nigeria and Cameroon, including the Chamba, Mumuye, Mambila, Idoma and Montol. These forms were recognized and used as currency.

Widely used in Southern Chad. these items were collected during my stay in the Moyen Chari Region in the 80 ties. The Kul shape can be date back to the neolithic rock paintings in the Sahara and to the more contemporary shape of the throwing knife used by the ethnic groups in Southern Chad both for hunting and fighting. They served to organize traditional ceremonies, pay local fines and up to 100 - 250 Kuls were needed for a marriage, but in the daily live they served to pay agricultural goods and services, pay fines. It is made out of  thin and light  wrought iron. The literature claims that the Kul was forged by the Ngama blacksmith and then distributed to various ethnic groups in Southern Chad.

These small and thin currencies was widely used throughout Southern Chad and spread even into Niger. Quiggin suggest that the form is influenced by a hoe used in neighboring Darfur and Kodofan. " it was custom to give a certain amount of hoe currency to the fiancée and her father during the engagement ceremonies" (Vitoor p.79). Our collection was acquired during may stay in Chad from 1982 to 1986. They may have been forged by the Kaba, a sub group of the sara tribe. Several ethnic groups use different names: Kokio, Koké, Nari-dul, Lar-ndul, Senne.