Ritual weapons and prestige tools in Fang and Kota cultural regions, the axes recalling a hornbill’s powerful beak were adapted to the forest environment of Gabon, even if their shape is derived from that of throwing knives. In 1931, Pastor Grébert (1886-1956) observed the end of the making of such traditional weapons by Fang blacksmiths and attributed this disappearance to the ease of commerce with colonial trading posts. F. Morin/MEG