Èpépé leaf, the eagle's wingbeat

èpépé

Source term: Rhombe

Èpépé is both the recorded object name and the tree whose leaf forms the sounding element; ngòliò names the imitated bird.

The sound is a wingbeat. Aka hunters use the èpépé leaf lure to imitate the wings of ngòliò, the bird called the “monkey eagle.” A leaf fixed to a wooden rod supplies the sound; the implement takes its name from the tree. At Mongoumba, this is a hunting lure, bòni (plural mòni), used to lure monkeys — a bird’s wingbeat recreated with a leaf.

le bruit de l'instrument imite celui des ailes de l'oiseau appelé ‘aigle de singe’ … et est utilisé comme appeau pour les singes

The sound of the instrument imitates the wings of the bird called “monkey eagle” and is used as a lure for monkeys.

Musée du quai Branly — Jacques Chirac, object 275216

Particulars

Object

A leaf of the èpépé tree fixed to the end of a wooden rod; 61 x 15 x 0.5 cm.