No. DIXON2022-002
Mamu Gulngay wungumali bullroarer
Australia · Johnstone River · lower Tully-Murray rainforest · North Queensland
Sacred / spirit
wungumali
Source term: bull-roarer
wungumali: Mamu and Gulngay name for the bullroarer; among the Mamu, also a spirit who helped at initiation.
Mamu and Gulngay speakers called the bullroarer wungumali. Among the Mamu the word also named a spirit who helped at initiation, giving it a second life in the unseen world. In one Mamu story Wungumali is a sexual larrikin who frightens everyone and kidnaps a girl just come of age; when he makes his noise, everyone runs off, scattering in all directions.
the bull-roarer was swung around through the air, making a noise [bi-bɔ bi-bɔ bi-bɔ]
Dixon 2022:160
Particulars
- Object
- Flat carved wooden blade with one string attached at the sharp end, whirled through the air to produce a loud roaring noise.
- Function
- Sacred association: wungumali also names a Mamu spirit who helps at initiation; the instrument's precise ceremonial role is not recorded.
Source
R. M. W. Dixon, Dyirbal Thesaurus: Nominals and Time Words (2022), p. 160 (entry Jo6), p. 49 (entry Bh25), and pp. 42, 283 and 379