This execution sword was discovered among a tribe in the Congo, and it was exclusively used for the execution of criminals and prisoners.
Between the mid-19th century and the 20th century, European explorers found these swords among minority tribes in the Congo. According to ancient sketches, the indigenous people used this weapon for executing prisoners, although there is still much debate surrounding its use.
In the local language, this sword is called “Ngulu sword,” meaning “execution sword.” This type of weapon is found throughout the Congo, originating from the Ngombe tribe. Only the tribal chief or those with authority in the village are permitted to possess this sword.
Chief of the Ngombe tribe.
The total length of the sword is approximately 66 cm, resembling a sickle with serrated edges along the bottom.
Execution sword.
“Execution sword” was only used during certain special occasions. A prisoner was selected, and their head was tied to a tall, resilient tree branch while they knelt, pulling their neck taut. The chief would then use the sword to behead the prisoner, and the elasticity of the tree would cause the head to be propelled away. After the beheading, the remaining parts of the body were evenly cut, and the tribe would celebrate by feasting on the remaining flesh of the prisoner.
Sketch of the Ngombe tribe’s sacrificial ceremony.
The Ngombe tribe is known as a cannibal tribe in the Congo; in addition to their executions, they organized human hunting competitions and killed nearby clans for food.
Today, this tribe still exists in the Congo, and although they have abandoned the practice of cannibalism, they continue to hold sacrificial ceremonies using goats instead of humans as they did in the past.
