An onzil (or osele or musele) is a

throwing knife A throwing knife is a knife that is specially designed and weighted so that it can be thrown effectively. They are a distinct category from ordinary knives. Throwing knives are used by many cultures around the world, and as such different tact ...

of ethnic groups from eastern

Gabon Gabon ( ; ), officially the Gabonese Republic (), is a country on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, on the equator, bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo to the east and south, and ...

( Kota,

Fang A fang is a long, pointed tooth. In mammals, a fang is a modified maxillary tooth, used for biting and tearing flesh. In snakes, it is a specialized tooth that is associated with a venom gland (see snake venom). Spiders also have external fangs, ...

, Mbété). Couteau de jet fang et kota gabon onzil

Uses

Looking like an

axe An axe (; sometimes spelled ax in American English; American and British English spelling differences#Miscellaneous spelling differences, see spelling differences) is an implement that has been used for thousands of years to shape, split, a ...

, the ''onzil'' has a calao-shaped blade. Its handle, often made of wood, is covered with copper wire, iron or brass. Sometimes handles are made of ivory. The onzil served as sacrificial weapons or for war. The Kotas called them ''osele'' or ''musele'', and the

called them ''onzil''. Early forms of this style knife, associated with the Fang people, had shorter straight handles. Kota people are neighbors of the Fang and likely from them adopted this style of knife.http://papke.med.ufl.edu/brian/Handfuls/V2%20Theo/chapter-8/1890-kota-bird-head.html

Gallery

COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Metalen werpmes TMnr 5938-2.jpg, Classical onzil Kota Onzil Axe.svg, Rare fish shaped onzil

Bibliography

* Jan Elsen, ''De fer et de fierté, Armes blanches d’Afrique noire du Musée Barbier-Mueller'', 5 Continents Editions, Milan, 2003, * Louis Perrois, ''L'esprit de la forêt : terres du Gabon'', 1997, p. 141 * Manfred A.Zirngibl-Werner Fischer, ''Afrikanische Waffen''

References

Edged and bladed weapons Throwing axes Axes African weapons Daggers Knives Throwing weapons {{Gabon-stub