Anklet / Currency, ehuke early 19th century Mbole, Congo The Mbole live in the North Congo region along the Lomami, a tributary of the Congo River. Both men and women wear the Mbole anklet. It is forged from a copper ingot and is offered during matrimonial transactions preceding the ceremonial event. Though evidence exists that copper was worked in Africa 500 years before iron, it appears that both technologies spread nearly concurrently across the continent between 500 BC and 500 AD. Copper production has always held the smaller share of metalworking production and was reserved for ornamentation and prestige objects that celebrate rites of passage and rituals of empowerment and protection. This piece is 8-1/2" high; 8-1/2" wide and 5" deep. It stands 14-1/2" tall on its custom steel mount. This anklet was probably forged long before the birth of Belgium’s King Leopold, the infamous colonizer of the Congo. Photos | Africa Index