Kana children's forbidden égùgù

égùgù

Source term: bullroarer

bullroarer; forbidden children’s imitation of adult secret-society instrument

Among the Ogoni of the Niger Delta, east of Port Harcourt, the men's secret leopard society kuè tɛ̀m̀ keeps a bullroarer of its own. Kana children keep another. Towards the end of the year they take up the égùgù, an imitation of the society's instrument, and sound it — a thing they are not, strictly, permitted to do. How the adult instrument is made, and what it says, stays where the society keeps it.

égùgù n. bullroarer. Imitation of the bullroarer used by the adult secret leopard society, kuè tɛ̀m̀, played by children towards the end of the year, although technically forbidden.

Roger Blench, A Dictionary of Kana, printed p. 15.

Particulars

Object

A children's bullroarer called égùgù among Kana (Ogoni) speakers of Rivers State, Nigeria, made in imitation of the instrument of the adult secret leopard society kuè tɛ̀m̀; material and form are not recorded.

Function

Sounded by children towards the end of the year in imitation of the adult secret leopard society's bullroarer, although technically forbidden.