164 records · Africa
Bullroarer records — Africa
Source-backed bullroarer record pages from Africa, grouped by present-day country. Each page keeps the record text, source line, image credit, and a link back to the same point on the interactive map.
Democratic Republic of the Congo 33
- Adoi (kundrukundru)NE Congo (Bira borderlands) - Function not recorded
- Aimeri (Mangbetu cluster)NE Congo (atuamba belt) - Function not recorded
- Amanga (Mangbetu cluster)NE Congo (atuamba belt) - Function not recorded
- Andebogo (Mangbetu cluster)NE Congo (atuamba belt) - Function not recorded
- Andowi (Mangbetu cluster)NE Congo (atuamba belt) - Function not recorded
- Babali (Bali), IturiNE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
- Babira (Bira), IturiNE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
- Bagbwa (egburuburu/arumvu-rumvu)NE Congo (Bira borderlands) - Function not recorded
- Bakango (Bafwaguda clan / Mbuti)Asunguda-Apare river district / Ituri Forest near Avakubi - Restricted
- Bakumu (Komo)NE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
- Balese (Kalimoholo village)Kilo-Geti goldfields district / Ituri Forest, Belgian Congo - Restricted
- Bangba / Ngbaka (Kereboro, Haut-Uele)NE Congo (atuamba belt) - Play / practical
- Bangelima (Ngelima)NE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
- Bapere (Pere)Pere country, North Kivu (Manguredjipa area) - Restricted
- Bapopoi (Popoi), AruwimiNE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
- Barundi (NE Congo)NE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
- Bembe (Babembe), South KivuSouth Kivu (Fizi), mountains above Lake Tanganyika - Restricted
- BolokiUpper Congo - Play / practical
- Bushongo / BushoongKuba / Kasai region - Restricted
- KubaKasai (Kuba) - Function not recorded
- Lokele, middle Congo RiverNE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
- MamvuNE Congo (Bira borderlands) - Function not recorded
- MayogoNE Congo (atuamba belt) - Function not recorded
- Mbole (Opala)NE Congo (atuamba belt) - Function not recorded
- Mbuti (BaMbuti, Ituri Forest "Pygmies")Ituri Forest, northeastern Congo (Ituri Province), DRC - Restricted
- Ngbaka minagende (Gemena)Gemena, Sud-Ubangi (then Équateur Region) - Restricted
- NyaliNE Congo (Bira borderlands) - Function not recorded
- Nyanga (Banyanga), eastern DR CongoNyangaland, North Kivu (Walikale) - Restricted
- Sango / Ngbandi (Biaba, Nord-Ubangi)NW DR Congo (northern Zaire per Grove) - Play / practical
- Wagenia (Genya), Kisangani rapidsNE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
- Wanyanza (NE Congo)NE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
- Yalemba-Ligasa area, Upper Congo (?Topoke / ?Olombo / ?Lokele)Tshopo Province / Yalemba-Ligasa area - Function not recorded
- Zande (Azande)NE Congo (atuamba belt) - Function not recorded
Cameroon 19
- BafiaBafia country, middle Mbam, Cameroon - Restricted
- Bakundu (Mbonge)Southwest Cameroon / Meme Division (Bakundu) - Restricted
- Bali (Bali Nyonga)Bali (Bali Nyonga), Cameroon Grassfields - Restricted
- Basa / BasaaSouthern Cameroon / Basaa Centre-Littoral region - Sacred / spirit
- Bulu / SangmelimaLobo River / Sangmelima / South Region, former German Kamerun - Function not recorded
- Eyap / Eghap / BagamBagam / West-Central Cameroon - Restricted
- FaliSacred / spirit
- Fali of Bao / TinguelinBao / Tinguelin / Benoue / northern Cameroon - Restricted
- Garoua site; catalog culture Kirdi and Peul, unresolvedGaroua / Bénoué Department / Northern Cameroon - Restricted
- KomaAlantika Mountains / North Cameroon - Restricted
- KunduCameroon - Function not recorded
- Longmo (Bokko / Voko; Longto language)Voko / Gormaaya / Poli / Faro Department / North Region - Restricted
- MafaSoulédé, Mayo-Tsanaga, Mandara Mountains - Function not recorded
- Mangamba / Abo country; ethnic attribution unrecordedAbo country north of the Mungo River / German Kamerun - Function not recorded
- MangisaSa'a, Lekie, Centre Region - Restricted
- Mboum (Ngan-Ha)Adamaoua / Ngan-Ha - Restricted
- MofuMandara Mountains / Gudur, Far North Cameroon - Function not recorded
- Ngiemboon / BamougongWest Region / Bamboutos / Bamougong (Batcham district) - Restricted
- Samba (Tschamba / Chamba; Samba Leko)Tchamba / Beka / Faro Department / North Region - Restricted
Nigeria 16
- BiniBenin Kingdom / later Edo State - Restricted
- Egba (Yoruba)Abeokuta (Egba) - Restricted
- Ekkpe / Ekpe society (Ibibio-Efik-Ekoi spread)Eastern Nigeria / Cross River-Calabar-Ibibio-Ekoi region - Restricted
- EsanEsanland / Edo State - Restricted
- Gwana Jukun and neighboring Dodo-cult communitiesCentral Nigeria / Gwana Jukun area - Restricted
- Gwari (Gbagyi)Gbagyi homeland (Niger State / FCT Abuja) - Sacred / spirit
- HausaKatsina, northern Nigeria - Play / practical
- Igbo / IboSouthern Nigeria / Igbo country - Restricted
- KambariNorthern Provinces of Nigeria - Play / practical
- Lower Ijaw (Ijo / Izon), Noin-nama cultCentral Niger Delta / Ijo (Ijaw) country - Sacred / spirit
- NunguNassarawa Province, Northern Nigeria - Play / practical
- Sama (Dakka / Samba Daka; Sama Mum)Sugu / Tsugu / Ganye LGA / Adamawa State - Restricted
- TivBenue valley - Weather / fertility magic
- Verre / MomiAdamawa / Cholli Verre region - Restricted
- Yoruba countryRestricted
- Yoruba watchman, Katsa (riverine Nupe country)Katsa, a Kede/Nupe creek-side trading village near Egga on the Niger, Bida Emirate, Niger Province, Northern Nigeria (now Niger State) - Sacred / spirit
Mali 9
- BamanaSegou region, middle Niger (eastern Bamana) - Sacred / spirit
- BambaraBambara / Mali - Restricted
- Bozo (Nouhoun-Bozo)Mopti Region / Djenne-Tenenkou area - Play / practical
- Bwa (Bwaba)Black Volta / San-Tominian, Mali-Burkina border - Restricted
- Djenné, MaliMopti Region / Djenne - Function not recorded
- Dogon / Awa societyBandiagara / Sanga - Restricted
- Dogon / SongoSongo / Bandiagara escarpment / Mopti region / French Sudan - Function not recorded
- Dogon, Yougo Dogorou (Bandiagara escarpment)Yougo Dogorou, Bandiagara escarpment, Mopti region (French Sudan at the time of the Dakar-Djibouti mission) - Restricted
- Kouroumba / YoroYoro / Mopti region / French Sudan - Play / practical
Kenya 7
- AkambaUkamba, British East Africa - Play / practical
- KikuyuCentral Kenya / Southern Kikuyu - Play / practical
- KikuyuHistoric Munge district / likely Mutira, Kirinyaga - Play / practical
- KipsigisKericho highlands, Kenya - Restricted
- Luo adherents of the Mumbo cult, Alego, western KenyaAlego, Central Kavirondo (Siaya) - Sacred / spirit
- Mijikenda (Wanika / Nyika)Coastal hinterland behind Mombasa (Kaya forests) - Sacred / spirit
- NandiNandi / British East Africa - Restricted
South Africa 7
- |'Auni and ‡Khomani Bushmen (San), southern KalahariSouthern Kalahari (Gordonia district, Northern Cape), around Twee Rivieren - Function not recorded
- |Xam BushmenNorthern Cape / |Xam Bushman source region - Weather / fertility magic
- Doring River rock-art shelterAt least 2,000 years old - Cederberg / Doring River valley - Sacred / spirit
- Johannesburg (maker's community unrecorded)Johannesburg / Witwatersrand, Transvaal Colony - Function not recorded
- Kaffir / Amakosa / XhosaRestricted
- Korana (!Kora Khoekhoe)Middle Orange River (!Kora country) - Play / practical
- Matjes River rock shelterc. 9580–5400 BP - Southern Cape / Matjes River mouth near Keurboomstrand (Plettenberg Bay) - Function not recorded
Angola 5
- Chokwe (Tsokwe)N.O. Angola (Lunda/Moxico Chokwe heartland) - Play / practical
- Humbi and HandaSouth-western Angola / Huila - Restricted
- Kongo (Bakongo)San Salvador / Mbanza Kongo - Play / practical
- OvimbunduElende, central Angola - Play / practical
- Southern Angola (Powell-Cotton collection)Angola (Portuguese West Africa) - Function not recorded
Gabon 5
- BambaOkondja, Haut-Ogooue - Play / practical
- Fang (Amvam)Woleu-Ntem / Oyem - Restricted
- Fang (Pangwe)Rio Muni / N Gabon / S Kamerun - Sacred / spirit
- GabonGabon - Function not recorded
- Kwele / BakweleMakokou / Haut-Ivindo - Restricted
Namibia 5
- Auin (=Auen / Aokhoe) San, Gobabis-EpukiroGobabis-Epukiro / southern Kaukauveld, German South-West Africa - Play / practical
- Brandberg rock paintingsc. 4000–2000 BP - Brandberg / Damaraland - Sacred / spirit
- Ju|'hoansi / !KungTsintsabis / Oshivelo and wider Kalahari source chain - Restricted
- San at Oas (subgroup unrecorded)Oas farm / Omaheke sandveld / Kalahari, German South-West Africa - Sacred / spirit
- Uukwaluudhi / OwamboOwamboland / Omusati region - Restricted
Burkina Faso 4
- BoboBobo-Dioulasso region, western Burkina Faso - Restricted
- Gan (Kaan / Kaansa)Southwest Burkina Faso / Loropeni Department - Restricted
- KassenaKoumbili, Pô subdivision, southern Burkina Faso - Weather / fertility magic
- Tusia / ToussianTusia/Toussian country, southwest Burkina Faso - Restricted
Ethiopia 4
- AmharaGondar, Amhara - Weather / fertility magic
- Burji (D'aashi / Daashi)Burji highlands / southern Ethiopia - Sacred / spirit
- Gedeo (historically Darassa / Darasa)Gedeo highlands / southern Ethiopia - Restricted
- Kusume (Kusuma / Kusumi; historically Gato)Gatoland / southern Ethiopia - Play / practical
Zambia 4
- Lala (baLala), Chibale chiefdom, Serenje DistrictChibale chiefdom, southwest Serenje District, Central Province - Sacred / spirit
- LambaCopperbelt / Lambaland, Zambia-Katanga border - Play / practical
- Luvale / Solochi VillageSolochi Village, Chavuma / former Zambezi District, North-Western Province - Restricted
- Ndembu / Wukengi Farm / Nyaluhana vicinageWukengi Farm / Nyaluhana vicinage, Mwinilunga District, North-Western Province - Restricted
Benin 3
- WéménuLower Ouémé valley - Restricted
- Yoruba / Abomey regionAbomey region / Zou Department / Dahomey - Function not recorded
- Yoruba / MitroMitro, Oueme Department - Sacred / spirit
Chad 3
- Goula Iro of Boum KabirBoum Kabir, north shore of Lake Iro, southeastern Chad - Restricted
- Mundang (Moundang)Lere region, SW Chad / N Cameroon - Sacred / spirit
- Tupuri (Toupouri)SW Chad / N Cameroon (Mayo-Kebbi) - Function not recorded
Cote d'Ivoire 3
- Dan / western Cote d'Ivoire and northeastern LiberiaDan country (western Cote d'Ivoire / northeastern Liberia) - Restricted
- Gban (Gagou), departement d'OumeDepartement d'Oume, centre-ouest Cote d'Ivoire - Play / practical
- Senufo (Senoufo)Korhogo-Boundiali, northern Cote d'Ivoire / SE Mali - Restricted
Egypt 3
- Egypt; Winifred Susan Blackman collectionEgypt / Nile Valley - Function not recorded
- Greek Orphic / Dionysian contextGurob / Fayum - Restricted
- Ptolemaic Greco-Egyptian cult attendantFayum - Sacred / spirit
Guinea 3
- KissiKissidougou-Guéckédou / Forest Guinea - Restricted
- Kono (Guinea)Guinee forestiere (Lola region), Haute-Guinee francaise - Restricted
- TomaNzerekore - Restricted
Republic of the Congo 3
- Bembe (Babembe, Congo-Brazzaville)Bouenza / Mouyondzi plateau (Lower-Congo cluster) - Play / practical
- Kuyu / KouyouKouyougandza / Cuvette - Play / practical
- Teke (Bateke)Batéké Plateau - Restricted
Central African Republic 2
- BaAka (Aka), Kenyé campSangha forest - Play / practical
- BandaBangassou / Ubangi region, CAR - Restricted
Democratic Republic of Congo 2
Madagascar 2
Malawi 2
- Blantyre, MalawiBlantyre - Function not recorded
- Konde (Nyakyusa-Ngonde), Malawi-Tanzania borderlandsKonde country, north end of Lake Malawi - Play / practical
Senegal 2
Sierra Leone 2
- SherbroSherbro Island, Bonthe District - Restricted
- Timne, Mabum (Sierra Leone)Northern Province / Mabum - Function not recorded
Tanzania 2
- Pare (Wapare), Pare Mountains, north-eastern TanzaniaPare Mountains - Restricted
- Wanjika (Unjika highland)Unjika highland / historic Rukwa district - Play / practical
Algeria 1
- Arab (Saharan)Saharan Algeria - Play / practical
Botswana 1
- G/wi and G//anaCentral Kalahari Reserve - Play / practical
Botswana / South Africa 1
- Tswana (Batswana)Tswana country (SE Botswana / NW South Africa) - Play / practical
Cote dIvoire 1
- Baule and GuroBaule Guro country - Restricted
Lesotho 1
- SothoLesotho / South Africa - Play / practical
Mali / Guinea 1
- Malinke / Bambara (Bamana) secret societies — Komo (Komang/Koma), Nama and allied cultsUpper Niger between the upper Senegal and the Bani ("Central Mandingo" country) - Restricted
Morocco 1
- Mogador environs (modern Essaouira)Atlantic Morocco / Mogador environs - Play / practical
Namibia; Angola 1
- Kwanyama / OwamboUukwanyama / Kwanyama region - Restricted
Nigeria / Cameroon 1
- Ekoi / EjaghamCross River / Oban District - Restricted
South Africa / Botswana / Namibia 1
- Bushmen / SanWeather / fertility magic
Sudan 1
- Masakin (Mesakin, Nuba)South Kordofan - Play / practical
Togo 1
- Yoruba (Ana-Ife) of Togoland, around Atakpame, central TogoGerman Togoland (central plateau, Atakpame country); modern central Togo - Function not recorded
Uganda 1
- UgandaUganda - Play / practical
Zimbabwe 1
- Lendy 1 rock-art siteUndated - Mashonaland East / Marondera - Function not recorded