This is a Chowke axe war club from central Africa with an early age. The Chowke people inhabit parts of Angola, Congo and Zambia. They were once one of twelve clans of the Lunda Empire. By 1900, the Chowke dismantled the Lunda Kingdom and began to expand their culture and influence. The axe shows an iron head with a carved wooden haft showing an Alligator effigy figure in three-dimensional detail crawling up the back of the handle. The wood haft also shows two wood bands carved with “X” cuts. The head has the typical elbow known on Chowke Shoka axes and is securing the blade. The piece is in good overall condition. It measures 21.5”L by 10 5/8”W.