Wapare ngurunguru (mshitu initiation)

ngurunguru

ngurunguru — the Pare bullroarers of the mshitu initiation grove; called children of the forest beast.

In the Pare mountains the ngurunguru went ahead of the mshitu: broad blades a forearm long, swung on their bands until the hills hummed. They were the children of the forest beast, and the beast itself waited in the initiation grove — the monster that swallowed the novices and, when the rites were done, gave them back as men. The humming was its household approaching.

Das sind die Kinder des Waldtieres, denn selbst ist es zu groß, als daß es im Lande umherziehen könnte.

These are the children of the forest beast, for the beast itself is too big to travel about the land.

Kotz 1922:76

Particulars

Object

Bullroarers about 30 cm long and 10-15 cm broad, swung on a band by their bearers to give a humming tone.

Function

Initiation instruments: the ngurunguru — 'children of the forest beast' — are swung ahead of the mshitu festival, voicing the monster that swallows the novices and gives them back.