Ceremonial Weapon

The blade of this ceremonial weapon juts outward from a baboon’s mouth. It is possible that weapons like this were related to blacksmithing. Alternatively, the weapon may have belonged to a diviner whose skills derived from a close relationship with a wilderness spirit. Special training allows diviners to work in concert with such spirits to reveal the sources of human illness and trouble. Wilderness spirits often ask the people they possess to have unique objects like this weapon, or an elaborate belt [see 2011.706] made for them, to be displayed during a diviner’s public trance performances.