The Bullroarer Atlas

201 records · Africa

Bullroarer records — Africa

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.

Algeria 1

  1. Sayid, a Saharan child's toySaharan Algeria - Play / practical

Angola 6

  1. Chokwe (Tsokwe) ndumbamwela bullroarerN.O. Angola (Lunda/Moxico Chokwe heartland) - Play / practical
  2. Humbi Handa lumpoku circumcision-school bullroarerSouth-western Angola / Huila - Restricted
  3. Kongo (Bakongo)San Salvador / Mbanza Kongo - Play / practical
  4. Ngangela kasolo and kahulihuliNgangela country, south-eastern Angola (then Portuguese Angola) - Function not recorded
  5. Embungumbungu, a children's playthingElende, central Angola - Play / practical
  6. The Powell-Cotton sisters' Angolan roarerAngola (Portuguese West Africa) - Function not recorded

Benin 3

  1. Wéménu kpe, the voice of LoLower Ouémé valley - Restricted
  2. Yoruba Abomey eke bullroarerAbomey region / Zou Department / Dahomey - Function not recorded
  3. Yoruba Mitro, Benin bullroarer cluster, MKBMitro, Oueme Department - Sacred / spirit

Botswana 2

  1. G/wi and G//ana gíg/ù children's bullroarerCentral Kalahari Reserve - Play / practical
  2. Naro (Nharo) hisi — //Gauwa's voice at initiationGhanzi farm block, Ghanzi District (Bechuanaland Protectorate at the time of the earlier reports) - Restricted

Botswana / Namibia / South Africa 1

  1. Bushman / San rain and hunting bullroarerWeather / fertility magic

Botswana / South Africa 1

  1. Tswana (seburuburu)Tswana country (SE Botswana / NW South Africa) - Play / practical

Burkina Faso 5

  1. BoboBobo-Dioulasso region, western Burkina Faso - Restricted
  2. Dorhosie Zorhogo, the iron that hunts sorcerersCercle de Bobo-Dioulasso, former Haute-Volta / French Sudan - Restricted
  3. Gan sᴐrᴐ initiation bullroarerSouthwest Burkina Faso / Loropeni Department - Restricted
  4. Kassena nàvúni bullroarer cluster, MKBKoumbili, Pô subdivision, southern Burkina Faso - Weather / fertility magic
  5. Tusia Do-society metal rhombeTusia/Toussian country, southwest Burkina Faso - Restricted

Cameroon 20

  1. Bafia (elume cult)Bafia country, middle Mbam, Cameroon - Restricted
  2. Bakundu Eboku bull-roarerSouthwest Cameroon / Meme Division (Bakundu) - Restricted
  3. Bali Nyonga (harvest warding)Bali (Bali Nyonga), Cameroon Grassfields - Restricted
  4. Basa southern Cameroon mbam um bullroarerSouthern Cameroon / Basaa Centre-Littoral region - Sacred / spirit
  5. Bulu Zauberholz bullroarer, SangmelimaLobo River / Sangmelima / South Region, former German Kamerun - Play / practical
  6. Dii panther-rhombe of the circumcision bushFrench Cameroon / Adamaoua highlands - Restricted
  7. Eyap/Eghap Bagam death-ceremony bull-roarerBagam / West-Central Cameroon - Restricted
  8. Uni, the red-millet roarerSacred / spirit
  9. Fali Bao Tinguelin Tadogbel funeral and initiation bullroarerBao / Tinguelin / Benoue / northern Cameroon - Restricted
  10. Garoua circumcision bullroarerGaroua / Bénoué Department / Northern Cameroon - Restricted
  11. Koma iron triangle, ancestral voiceAlantika Mountains / North Cameroon - Restricted
  12. Kundu roarer held as a power objectCameroon - Function not recorded
  13. Bokko Voko Longto Uonatonajo ancestor-voice bullroarerVoko / Gormaaya / Poli / Faro Department / North Region - Restricted
  14. Mafa millet-stalk Schwirrholz SoulédéSoulédé, Mayo-Tsanaga, Mandara Mountains - Function not recorded
  15. Mangamba bark-cord bullroarer, Abo countryAbo country north of the Mungo River / German Kamerun - Function not recorded
  16. Imbakiyam, voice of the Sô emergenceSa'a, Lekie, Centre Region - Restricted
  17. Mboum Ngan-Ha circumcision rhombeAdamaoua / Ngan-Ha - Restricted
  18. MofuMandara Mountains / Gudur, Far North Cameroon - Function not recorded
  19. Ngiemboon mandelevum nkye bullroarer, BamougongWest Region / Bamboutos / Bamougong (Batcham district) - Restricted
  20. Tschamba Samba Leko Langa circumcision bullroarerTchamba / Beka / Faro Department / North Region - Restricted

Central African Republic 3

  1. BaAka roarer inside the elanda danceSangha forest - Play / practical
  2. BandaBangassou / Ubangi region, CAR - Restricted
  3. Epépé leaf, the eagle's wingbeatLobaye Prefecture - Play / practical

Chad 3

  1. Goula Iro Yonto bullroarer, Boum KabirBoum Kabir, north shore of Lake Iro, southeastern Chad - Restricted
  2. Mundang (Moundang)Lere region, SW Chad / N Cameroon - Sacred / spirit
  3. Tupuri (Toupouri)SW Chad / N Cameroon (Mayo-Kebbi) - Function not recorded

Cote d'Ivoire 6

  1. Baule Guro bonu amuin bullroarer spirit voiceBaule Guro country - Restricted
  2. Dan Goton and the stilt-dancers of BouafleDan (Yacouba) country around Man, western Cote d'Ivoire - Sacred / spirit
  3. Dan rhombe sound-mask bullroarer, Man / TonkpiDan country (western Cote d'Ivoire / northeastern Liberia) - Restricted
  4. Gban (Gagou) wroum wroum bird-scarerDepartement d'Oume, centre-ouest Cote d'Ivoire - Play / practical
  5. Senufo (Senoufo)Korhogo-Boundiali, northern Cote d'Ivoire / SE Mali - Restricted
  6. Toura Goton, the iron god who speaksToura mountains, Biankouma, western Cote d'Ivoire - Sacred / spirit

Côte d’Ivoire 1

  1. Two devils circling the squareBouna, northeastern Côte d'Ivoire - Restricted

Democratic Republic of the Congo 41

  1. Adoi (Grove/van Geluwe)NE Congo (Bira borderlands) - Function not recorded
  2. Aimeri (kunzukunzu)NE Congo - Function not recorded
  3. Amanga (kundrukundru)NE Congo - Function not recorded
  4. Andebogo (kundrukundru)NE Congo - Function not recorded
  5. Andowi (atuamba chain)NE Congo (atuamba belt) - Function not recorded
  6. Babali (Bali)NE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
  7. Babira (Bira)NE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
  8. Bagbwa (egburuburu)NE Congo (Bira borderlands) - Function not recorded
  9. Bakango / Bafwaguda maduali bullroarerAsunguda-Apare river district / Ituri Forest near Avakubi - Restricted
  10. Bakumu (Komo) tuambiNE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
  11. Fomvokai, the god's name extendedGeti, Irumu Territory, Ituri / Belgian Congo - Sacred / spirit
  12. Go, child of the drum glöiKilo, Kilo-Moto goldfields district, Ituri / Belgian Congo - Sacred / spirit
  13. Balese (Kalimoholo) pahudjuhudju bullroarerKilo-Geti goldfields district / Ituri Forest, Belgian Congo - Restricted
  14. Bangba / Ngbaka (egburuburu)NE Congo (Kereboro, Haut-Uele) - Play / practical
  15. Bangelima (Ngelima)NE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
  16. Banyari (Nyali) of Geti — nékundurúkuGeti, Irumu Territory, Ituri / Belgian Congo - Sacred / spirit
  17. Northern Banyari (Nyali) of Kilo — oŭpaKilo, Kilo-Moto goldfields district, Ituri / Belgian Congo - Sacred / spirit
  18. Bapere (atuamba)Pere country, North Kivu (Manguredjipa area) - Restricted
  19. Bapopoi (Popoi)NE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
  20. BarundiNE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
  21. Bembe Tembwe leopard-voice bullroarerSouth Kivu (Fizi), mountains above Lake Tanganyika - Restricted
  22. Boloki toy-magical bullroarerUpper Congo - Play / practical
  23. Bushongo initiation bullroarersKuba / Kasai region - Restricted
  24. Koinambula, the palm-wine ghostKasai (Kuba) - Restricted
  25. Leele Nar'a kwei Kasai bullroarer recordingKasai / Leele country - Function not recorded
  26. Lokele banduluNE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
  27. Luba Tambo palm-leaf bullroarerLuba country / Tambo register note - Function not recorded
  28. Mamvu (egburuburu / arumvurumvu)NE Congo (Bira borderlands) - Function not recorded
  29. Mayogo (mbirimbiri)NE Congo - Function not recorded
  30. Mbo mongomongo and maduali initiation bullroarerIturi forest, Province Orientale (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
  31. Mbole (inano)NE Congo - Function not recorded
  32. Mbuti (BaMbuti), Ituri ForestIturi Forest, northeastern Congo (Ituri Province), DRC - Restricted
  33. Ndaka ngwe and maduali initiation bullroarerIturi forest, Province Orientale (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
  34. Ngbaka minagende (Gemena) vukumaGemena, Sud-Ubangi (then Équateur Region) - Restricted
  35. Nyanga nyabungubungu circumcision bullroarerNyangaland, North Kivu (Walikale) - Restricted
  36. Sango / Ngbandi bimbiNW DR Congo (northern Zaire per Grove) - Play / practical
  37. Wagenia (Genya)NE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
  38. WanyanzaNE Congo (Babali initiation belt) - Restricted
  39. Warega (Lega) tuamba circumcision bullroarerManiema / eastern forest, Province Orientale - Restricted
  40. Yalemba-Ligasa Upper Congo bullroarersTshopo Province / Yalemba-Ligasa area - Function not recorded
  41. Zande (gilingwa)NE Congo - Function not recorded

Egypt 3

  1. Winifred Blackman's Egyptian roarerEgypt / Nile Valley - Function not recorded
  2. Gurob papyrus Orphic Dionysian rhombos leadGurob / Fayum - Restricted
  3. Fayum Ptolemaic figureFayum - Sacred / spirit

Ethiopia 4

  1. Rorata, the leopard's cryGondar, Amhara - Weather / fertility magic
  2. Burji Omisso Furissa bullroarerBurji highlands / southern Ethiopia - Sacred / spirit
  3. Gedeo Darassa emimissa restricted bullroarerGedeo highlands / southern Ethiopia - Restricted
  4. Gato Kusume field bird-scarer bullroarerGatoland / southern Ethiopia - Play / practical

Gabon 5

  1. Bamba child's toy roarerOkondja, Haut-Ogooue - Play / practical
  2. Amvam Fang evuntere bullroarerWoleu-Ntem / Oyem - Restricted
  3. Fang (Pangwe)Rio Muni / N Gabon / S Kamerun - Sacred / spirit
  4. Gabon MIMO bromhout bullroarerGabon - Function not recorded
  5. Kwele / Bakwele namiqwott funeral bullroarer, MakokouMakokou / Haut-Ivindo - Restricted

Ghana 1

  1. LoDagaa (Birifu), Upper West Region, GhanaBirifu, Lawra District, Northern Territories of the Gold Coast - Restricted

Guinea 3

  1. Kissi initiation and ancestor-voice bullroarerKissidougou-Guéckédou / Forest Guinea - Restricted
  2. Kono (gueyoumo)Guinee forestiere (Lola region), Haute-Guinee francaise - Restricted
  3. Guri, a voice of AfwiNzerekore - Restricted

Kenya 9

  1. Akamba (Ukamba) boy's bullroarerUkamba, British East Africa - Play / practical
  2. Bukusu leopard-voice bullroarerNorth Kabras location, Kakamega District / Bungoma–Kakamega Bukusu country, western Kenya - Restricted
  3. Gusii eng'iti enene, the Big Beast of OutsideNyansongo, Kisii highlands, Nyanza Province (now Kisii and Nyamira counties), western Kenya - Restricted
  4. Kikuyu kiburuti child-toy survivalCentral Kenya / Southern Kikuyu - Play / practical
  5. Munge Kikuyu bullroarerHistoric Munge district / likely Mutira, Kirinyaga - Play / practical
  6. KipsigisKericho highlands, Kenya - Restricted
  7. Mumbo cult bullroarers (Alego / Kavirondo)Alego, Central Kavirondo (Siaya) - Sacred / spirit
  8. Mijikenda (Wanika)Coastal hinterland behind Mombasa (Kaya forests) - Sacred / spirit
  9. Nandi initiation bullroarersNandi / British East Africa - Restricted

Lesotho 1

  1. Sotho bull-roarer (sevuruvuru)Lesotho / South Africa - Play / practical

Liberia 3

  1. Bale wola heralds the Big DevilWestern Province / Lofa (Gbunde country) - Restricted
  2. Vu ni, the devil who roarsCentral Province / Nimba (Mano country) - Restricted
  3. Gio circumcision-school bull-roarer, "make bull-roarer talk"Central Province / Nimba (Gio country) - Restricted

Madagascar 2

  1. SakalavaSW Madagascar, districts of Beroroha and Sakaraha - Play / practical
  2. TanalaEastern forest escarpment, Fianarantsoa (Ifanadiana-Ikongo) - Play / practical

Malawi 2

  1. Blantyre, Malawi bullroarerBlantyre - Function not recorded
  2. Konde ifula rain bullroarerKonde country, north end of Lake Malawi - Play / practical

Mali 10

  1. Bamana lion-voice in wood and ironSegou region, middle Niger (eastern Bamana) - Sacred / spirit
  2. Bamana blood-crusted cult BoliFrench Sudan collection context - Sacred / spirit
  3. Bambara N'Domo Lion bullroarerBambara / Mali - Restricted
  4. Bozo Nouhoun-Bozo boys' rhombeMopti Region / Djenne-Tenenkou area - Play / practical
  5. Bwa (Bwaba)Black Volta / San-Tominian, Mali-Burkina border - Restricted
  6. Djenne Mali MIMO bromhout bullroarerMopti Region / Djenne - Function not recorded
  7. Dogon Sanga Awa mask bullroarer women warningBandiagara / Sanga - Restricted
  8. Dogon Songo veni bullroarerSongo / Bandiagara escarpment / Mopti region / French Sudan - Restricted
  9. Imina na, the great maskYougo Dogorou, Bandiagara escarpment, Mopti region (French Sudan at the time of the Dakar-Djibouti mission) - Restricted
  10. Kouroumba Yoro atongu dry-season bullroarerYoro / Mopti region / French Sudan - Play / practical

Mali / Guinea 1

  1. Mande Komo-complex sacred hidden Schwirrholz (Frobenius 1908)Upper Niger between the upper Senegal and the Bani ("Central Mandingo" country) - Restricted

Morocco 1

  1. Mogador / Essaouira ferfâra bullroarerAtlantic Morocco / Mogador environs - Play / practical

Namibia 5

  1. Auin ostrich-lure bullroarer, KaukauveldGobabis-Epukiro / southern Kaukauveld, German South-West Africa - Play / practical
  2. Brandberg rock-painting bullroarer depictionc. 4,000–2,000 years ago - Brandberg / Damaraland - Sacred / spirit
  3. Ju|'hoansi and !Kung initiation bullroarersTsintsabis / Oshivelo and wider Kalahari source chain - Restricted
  4. Oas San healer's bullroarer, OmahekeOas farm / Omaheke sandveld / Kalahari, German South-West Africa - Sacred / spirit
  5. Uukwaluudhi omathila rain and sowing Big BirdsOwamboland / Omusati region - Restricted

Namibia / Angola 1

  1. Kwanyama edila circumcision Big BirdsUukwanyama / Kwanyama region - Restricted

Nigeria 25

  1. Bini Oloawon Ovia / Ovato bullroarerBenin Kingdom / later Edo State - Restricted
  2. Dakarkari bull-roarer, the Voice of MagirroKebbi, north-western Nigeria (Sokoto Province under British administration) - Restricted
  3. Oro's voice, worshipped as the godAbeokuta (Egba) - Restricted
  4. Ekkpe eastern Nigeria ceremony bull-roarerEastern Nigeria / Cross River-Calabar-Ibibio-Ekoi region - Restricted
  5. Esan Alimin-Otor land-spirit bullroarerEsanland / Edo State - Restricted
  6. Gwana Jukun Dodo bullroarer voice and rain cultCentral Nigeria / Gwana Jukun area - Restricted
  7. Gwari (Gbagyi) oath riteGbagyi homeland (Niger State / FCT Abuja) - Sacred / spirit
  8. Kura, the hyena that calls dogsKatsina, northern Nigeria - Play / practical
  9. Hausa boys' bull-roarer, DauraDaura, Katsina Emirate, Northern Nigeria - Play / practical
  10. Idoma ohumhum, fish-shaped plaque of the alekwu deadIdoma country, Otukpo, Benue State - Restricted
  11. Idoma ofukufuku, the schoolroom bullroarerIdoma country, Otukpo, Benue State - Play / practical
  12. Odegilligilli, the night maw's summonsSouthern Nigeria / Igbo country - Restricted
  13. Kambari Northern Nigeria child toy bullroarerNorthern Provinces of Nigeria - Play / practical
  14. Kurama makili, the bull-roarer at the ancestral gravesZaria Province, Northern Nigeria (now Lere LGA, Kaduna State) - Sacred / spirit
  15. N'Yoro Oekum'Lagos, Nigeria - Sacred / spirit
  16. Lower Ijaw Noin-nama bull-roarerCentral Niger Delta / Ijo (Ijaw) country - Restricted
  17. Morwa bull-roarer, the crying in the sacred groveZaria Province, Northern Nigeria (now Kaura LGA, Kaduna State) - Sacred / spirit
  18. NunguNassarawa Province, Northern Nigeria - Play / practical
  19. Dakka Sama Mum Langa ancestral-voice bullroarerSugu / Tsugu / Ganye LGA / Adamawa State - Restricted
  20. Abume, whirled to scare spiritsBenue valley - Weather / fertility magic
  21. Verre Momi Do'os harvest bullroarersAdamawa / Cholli Verre region - Restricted
  22. Fork-ended Oshogbo Yoruba bladeOshogbo, Nigeria - Sacred / spirit
  23. Oyo palm-midrib bullroarer pairOyo, Nigeria - Function not recorded
  24. Yoruba Oro voice bullroarerRestricted
  25. Wasman's private anti-thief alarmKatsa, a Kede/Nupe creek-side trading village near Egga on the Niger, Bida Emirate, Niger Province, Northern Nigeria (now Niger State) - Sacred / spirit

Nigeria / Cameroon 1

  1. Ekoi Enyara Akum club bullroarersCross River / Oban District - Restricted

Republic of the Congo 5

  1. Bembe (Babembe)Bouenza / Mouyondzi plateau (Lower-Congo cluster) - Play / practical
  2. Bongo bamboo-midrib bullroarer pairKongo-Brazzaville / French Equatorial Africa (no locality recorded) - Sacred / spirit
  3. Kota burnt-pattern bullroarerKongo-Brazzaville / French Equatorial Africa (no locality recorded) - Sacred / spirit
  4. Kuyu / Kouyou Ngwé bullroarer, KouyougandzaKouyougandza / Cuvette - Play / practical
  5. Teke (Bateke)Batéké Plateau - Restricted

Senegal 3

  1. Bassari akotikotiEtyolo, Kedougou - Function not recorded
  2. Nyandemém, the slave of GindamRestricted
  3. Ndut (Sereer) gum paxa funerary bullroarer, PambalArrondissement de Pambal, Departement de Tivaouane, Region de Thies - Sacred / spirit

Sierra Leone 2

  1. SherbroSherbro Island, Bonthe District - Restricted
  2. Timne cane bullroarer, MabumNorthern Province / Mabum - Restricted

South Africa 11

  1. !goin!goin bull-roarer of the Kalahari San (Kirby collection)Southern Kalahari (Gordonia district, Northern Cape), around Twee Rivieren - Function not recorded
  2. |Xam !goin !goin bee-control bullroarerNorthern Cape / |Xam Bushman source region - Weather / fertility magic
  3. Doring River rock-art bullroarer playersAt least 2,000 years old - Cederberg / Doring River valley - Sacred / spirit
  4. Johannesburg sandstorm bullroarerJohannesburg / Witwatersrand, Transvaal Colony - Play / practical
  5. Xhosa / Amakosa nodiwu bullroarerRestricted
  6. Korana (burubush)Middle Orange River (!Kora country) - Play / practical
  7. KwaZulu-Natal carved bullroarerKwaZulu/Natal - Sacred / spirit
  8. Matjes River MR 40 bullroarerc. 7630–3450 BC - Southern Cape / Matjes River mouth near Keurboomstrand (Plettenberg Bay) - Function not recorded
  9. Orange Springs painted trance-dance bullroarerc. 1000 BC–AD 1906 - Eastern Free State / Caledon River valley near Modderpoort and Ladybrand - Sacred / spirit
  10. Pedi bull-roarer (kgabududu)Transvaal (Sekhukhuneland, Limpopo) - Play / practical
  11. Venda bull-roarer and spinning-disk (tshivhilivhi / luvuva)Venda (Vhembe, northern Limpopo) - Play / practical

Sudan 1

  1. Masakin (Mesakin, Nuba)South Kordofan - Play / practical

Tanzania 2

  1. Wapare ngurunguru (mshitu initiation)Pare Mountains - Restricted
  2. Wanjika / Unjika highland toy bullroarerUnjika highland / historic Rukwa district - Play / practical

Togo 1

  1. Atakpamé painted Yoruba bladeGerman Togoland (central plateau, Atakpame country); modern central Togo - Function not recorded

Uganda 1

  1. Uganda wooden toy bullroarerUganda - Play / practical

Zambia 4

  1. Lala (cimwimwi), ChibaleChibale chiefdom, southwest Serenje District, Central Province - Sacred / spirit
  2. LambaCopperbelt / Lambaland, Zambia-Katanga border - Play / practical
  3. Luvale ndumbamwelela Mukanda bullroarer, Solochi VillageSolochi Village, Chavuma / former Zambezi District, North-Western Province - Restricted
  4. Ndumba mwila, the fish-shaped monsterWukengi Farm / Nyaluhana vicinage, Mwinilunga District, North-Western Province - Restricted

Zimbabwe 1

  1. Lendy 1 Zimbabwe rock-art bullroarerProbably more than 2,000 years ago - Mashonaland East / Marondera - Function not recorded