A Tutsi spearhead from Rwanda, 20th c.

This spearhead was purchased via eBay late last month. I paid a bit more than i've been bidding on spears, but i felt it was worth it. Spears are still undervalued, especially compared to American Indian items. I purchased an old Javan tombak spear with shira-saya type display mountings from the same seller (later). I'm always uncertain if an object i'm purchasing is a legitimate old piece made for use, or a newer piece made for the tourist market. This one's definitely made for use. It is light and graceful, much like the Tutsi pastoralists themselves, who are said to be some of the tallest peoples of Africa.

Length (overall): 17".

Length (blade/point): 12".

Length (other dimensions): Socket is 5".

Width at widest point (blade/point): 1 1/2".

Width (other dimensions): Blade tapers from 5/8" about 1" from tip, remains roughly parallel for about 9", then swells to 1 1/2" at base.

Materials: A clean, solid piece of steel. No forging flaws evident. There's some slight discoloration, but no pitting or extensive rust. Shaft was bamboo (some remnants are still present in socket), probably glued in place with gum? Shaft was tapered to fit. I couldn't find any Tutsi spears, or any spears at all from Rwanda or Burundi in the AMNH collections, so I can't make any assumptions about shaft characteristics. I imagine the shaft was 6' or so with a short, well-made tail.

Overall, the spear is essentially sword-form, like a small Maasai spear. I didn't realize sword-form spears were so common in East Africa, especially the more northeastern areas. The ferrule is fairly narrow, befitting a light, graceful spearhead. The ferrule is decorated at top and bottom with incised rings. No remnants or signs of copper wires, etc.

The blade is strongly ogival in cross-section. I think that's a pretty remarkable feature, but it only becomes apparent when the object is handled. I suppose the most distinct stylistic feature of the blade is the use of contrasting polished/oxidized surfaces, corresponding with the concave/convex facets. I recently sold a small decorative spear (I assume it was from Kenya, and probably less than 20 years old) that had similar oxidized/polished surfaces. It doesn't appear to have been sharpened much, but it is quite sharp (which supports my belief the object was made for use - most [but not all] of the tourist pieces i've handled have blunted edges). File marks present

The Tutsi (Watusi, Watutsi, etc., the Wa and Ba prefixes were generally dropped in the 1970s) are of course the Tutsi of the Rwandan Hutu/Tutsi conflict in the 1990s. The incident had nasty colonial overtones, of which many other, finer authors have written volumes. I imagine this point is much older than the genocide.

I'm pleased with the spear and will not be trading it off any time soon.