{"id":"EXH2026-053","label":"Sango / Ngbandi bimbi","people_or_site":"Sango / Ngbandi (Biaba, Nord-Ubangi)","country_current":"Democratic Republic of the Congo","historic_region":"NW DR Congo (northern Zaire per Grove)","macroregion":"Africa / Central Africa","local_name":"bimbi","source_term":"bimbi / rhombe / bull-roarer","source_language":"English","object_description":"Two decorated wooden bimbi, each a slightly curved blade incised with geometric lines and tied by a cord to a straight wooden stick.","function_summary":"A plaything for boys.","attestation_type":"museum_specimen","source_key":"africamuseum_rmca2026","source_type":"museum_collection","source_url":"https://www.africamuseum.be/en/research/discover/collections_management/cultural_heritage_collections/database","page_or_plate":"RMCA MO.0.0.13614-1, MO.0.0.13614-2; New Grove s.v. Bimbi","map_confidence":"medium","plot_status":"plot_with_caveat","coordinate_basis":"NW DRC, approximate (Grove gives region only)","jade_complex_role":"","blurb":"Bimbi, the Sango and Ngbandi peoples of the upper Ubangi River call it: a slightly curved wooden blade incised with geometric lines, tied by its cord to a straight stick. In the village of Biaba, in Nord-Ubangi province in the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it was not a ritual object but a boys' plaything. This pair is in Tervuren.","pull_quote":"","pull_quote_translation":"","pull_quote_cite":"","term_gloss":"bimbi: the Sango/Ngbandi (upper Ubangi) name for the bullroarer, a whirled wooden blade.","cls":"play_practical","class_label":"Play / practical","color":"#24766D","is_candidate":false,"flags":["toy_survival"],"f_jade_complex":false,"f_women_taboo":false,"f_women_special":false,"f_snake":false,"sources":[{"citation":"Royal Museum for Central Africa (AfricaMuseum), Tervuren, MO.0.0.13614-1 and MO.0.0.13614-2; New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments (1984), s.v. Bimbi","url":"https://www.africamuseum.be/en/research/discover/collections_management/cultural_heritage_collections/database","archive":"https://web.archive.org/web/20260811110412/https://www.africamuseum.be/en/research/discover/collections_management/cultural_heritage_collections/database"}],"source_citations":"Royal Museum for Central Africa (AfricaMuseum), Tervuren, MO.0.0.13614-1 and MO.0.0.13614-2; New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments (1984), s.v. Bimbi","source_display":"Royal Museum for Central Africa (AfricaMuseum), Tervuren, MO.0.0.13614-1 and MO.0.0.13614-2; New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments (1984), s.v. Bimbi","date_citation_display":"","object_display":"Two decorated wooden bimbi, each a slightly curved blade incised with geometric lines and tied by a cord to a straight wooden stick.","function_display":"A plaything for boys.","confidence_display":"medium","attestation_label":"museum specimen","etymology_hedge":"","people_key":"sango","display_name":"Sango / Ngbandi bimbi","image":{"full":"assets/objects/EXH2026-053_rmca_mo0013614.jpg","thumb":"assets/objects/EXH2026-053_rmca_mo0013614_thumb.jpg","credit":"Collection RMCA / AfricaMuseum, Tervuren — MO.0.0.13614","license":"N/A","source_page":"","rehosted":true,"representative":false,"caption":"A carved wooden bimbi rigged for use: an elongated blade banded with incised triangular ornament near its base."},"slug":"exh2026-053-sango-ngbandi-biaba-nord-ubangi"}