Fomvokai and the pot wife

fomvokai / fomvokia

Source term: Schwirrholz

fomvokai (also fomvokia): the Balendu (Lendu) name for the bullroarer at Geti, built on fomvo, their word for God; the pot-instrument of the same locality is ogobakai.

At Geti, initiation and circumcision belonged to a married pair of voices. The bullroarer was fomvokai, also heard as fomvokia, a name built on fomvo, the Geti word for God; beside it sounded a pot noise-instrument, ogobakia, called the bullroarer's wife. Seventy-odd kilometres north, at Kilo, the same people paired the roarer go with a reed-blown pot, glöi, said to be its mother. The instrument, the vessel and the god were held inside one family of names, and the boys were made men to the sound of husband and wife.

Die Balendu von Geti heißen das Schwirrholz fomvokai oder fomvokia; Gott nennen sie fomvo. Das Topfinstrument heißt ogobakai.

The Balendu of Geti call the bullroarer fomvokai or fomvokia; God they call fomvo. The pot-instrument is called ogobakai.

Schebesta 1933:135

Particulars

Object

A bullroarer, paired in ritual with a pot noise-instrument; its form and material are not recorded.