Pipe

Tobacco pipe; dark brown in color; stem of pipe is bent upward at the mouth piece end; bone mouth piece protrudes from the center of the top end of pipe; two grooves are carved around rim; wrapped around upper neck of stem are two seperated bands of twisted plant fiber; cylindrical stem; Molambo pattern on lower end of stem; stem of pipe goes through bottom portion of bowl; bowl has an hourglass shape; top portion is larger and opened at top; bottom part has a flat base; two raised rings around the center and zigzag design encircle both rim and base of bowl.

Tobacco was introduced to the west coast from America by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The Bushongo have a legend they learned to cultivate and smoke tobacco from their culture hero and king, Shamba Bolongongo, who had himself learned it's use from the Bapende in the west. Shamba Bolongongo is believed to have lived in the early 17th century.