Forged iron. Cm. 64,0 high (25.2″); weight: grams 487,8 (17.21 oz.).

This throwing knife comes from the southeastern or northern Sara, a generalized term that encompasses numerous cultural groups, such as the Madjingay, Manga, Musgum, Niellim, and Tumak. 

The area around Lake Chad that these groups inhabit 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. 

The careful incisions and high quality iron indicate that this piece was manufactured by the kodi blacksmith caste, and not the haddad blacksmiths, whose blades are made of a duller iron and are more crudely ornamented (Spring, African Arms and Armor, 1993).

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