The Basenji is a very special dog, used in Africa as an all-around hunter and typifying neither a classic sighthound nor scenthound, as it hunts by both scent and sight. It appears to have developed from a diversity of canid types and indeed is probably most closely related to the pariah family. Over the years, the breed has also been described as both a terrier and as one of the spitz breeds, so to obtain a clearer picture of the Basenji we will peruse the pages of history.

Today’s Basenji is the descendant of a dog well known to the pharaohs of Egypt, for rock carvings dating back about 5,000 years tell us of the breed’s history in that land. There is no doubt that remarkably similar dogs were in Upper Egypt at one time, and probably also in Lower Egypt. The Khufu dogs are the first domestic dogs to have been known in ancient Egypt, found on tombs in the period of King Khufu (also known as Cheops), who reigned from 2,638 until 2,613 BC. Although they have been described as being of spitz type, they are more likely to have resembled the dingo/pariah type, but certainly show strong Basenji characteristics. It is evident that some, at least, were kept as house dogs, for they were shown on the chairs of their masters and were named “thesam,” which means “hound” or “ordinary dog.”

A painted wooden statue from the early Ptolemaic period, circa 300 BC, of the jackal-headed Anubis, god of death.

There were even accounts of individual dogs, so we know that they were well thought of by both the pharaohs themselves and by court officials. There is a remarkable account of a Basenji-type dog by the name of Abuwtiyuw, who was buried in fine linen. The following inscription was found on an ancient Egyptian tomb of about 2,650 BC and is well deserving of quotation to set the scene:

“The dog which was the guard of His Majesty,

Abuwtiyuw is his name.

His Majesty ordered that he be buried ceremonially,

That he be given a coffin from the Royal treasury,

Fine linen in great quantity, and incense.

His Majesty also gave perfumed ointment, and ordered that a tomb

Be built for him by gangs of masons.

His Majesty did this for him in order that the dog

Might be honored before the great god, Anubis.”

It is likely that many dogs similar to the Basenji we know today were entombed with great honors, especially those belonging to the royal household. It should, however, be recognized that Egyptian dogs more akin to the Greyhound were also honored in this way.

With the fall of the Egyptian pharaohs and as trading routes opened up, various tribes throughout the Congo adopted the dogs that had been so favored in Egypt. Merchants must have traveled with their dogs, and so the breed spread farther into Africa. In Central Africa, the Basenji was reputed to be very attached to its masters, and the affection was reciprocated. They were put to several different kinds of tasks; in particular, hunting and destroying the long-toothed reed rat that was a great threat to the natives’ homesteads and to their livestock. The Basenji also was used by native hunters as a beater of game and for hunting antelope. As a sporting dog, the Basenji is both fast and agile, and a remarkably good jumper. In Africa, it can jump sufficiently high to see over the tall elephant grass, for which reason it is sometimes known as theM’bwa m’kubwa M’mwa mamwitu, which can be roughly translated as “jumping-up-and-down-dog.”

When working as a beating dog, a so-called “king” dog was selected to lead the beaters. As the Basenji did not use its voice, around its neck was tied a dried gourd, filled with pebbles, which would make noise.

In Central Africa, the Basenji found itself with many close relatives, among which were the Niam Niam and the Manbouton. It also found itself with a variety of names—Belgian Congo Dog, Congo Bush Dog, Congo Hunting Terrier, Lagos Bush Dog and Congo Terrier were all commonly used for this breed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CONGO TERRIER

Writing in 1906, Robert Leighton gave a description of the Congo Terrier and incorporated a picture of “Bosc,” who was kept in the Zoological Gardens in Paris. He wrote of the Congo Terrier as being one of the most aut