African Folklore: An Encyclopedia - Marshalls University

African folklore 556
Bows
Musical bows may be performed without or without vocal music as song, praise, and
other percussive or ornamental sounds. Within these songs, one can trace histories of
different groups of people and cultures, as well as the often poignant stories of
individuals. Humorous incidents are retold and stretch the imagination. Within the
narrative songs, one hears about the migrations of people and about ancestors and their
heroic deeds; the texts contain insights about the meanings assigned to many aspects of
life and the hereafter. In nearly all the bow songs in this region, cattle (for the Bantuspeaking
peoples) and game, especially eland (for Khoesan-speaking peoples) feature
prominently. Whereas the playing of drums in Africa has traditionally been reserved for
men (with exceptions in southern and south western Africa), bows are quite often played
by women as well as men.
Tjisuta playing omburumbumba. Photo
© Minette Mans.
Various mouth- and gourd-resonated bows are found all over Namibia, Botswana,
southern Angola, and South Africa and are commonly played as boys walk along herding
cattle or sit and rest under a tree. Older men often play for “loneliness” reasons. Some
bows are simply played by inserting one end into the mouth (cheek) and beating the
string with a small stick while creating different overtones by changing the shape of the
buccal cavity (inside mouth). Others are tied with a small piece of sinew or wire to create
two (or more) different lengths of string, giving different tones. When an external
resonator is attached, a more resonant sound can be created. The social significance of
hunting bows (which have dual purpose—hunting and music) and gourd-resonated bows
(only for music) differs.
Hunting bows used as musical instruments may be braced or unbraced and are mouth
resonated. In Namibia these bows are common amongst Bantu-speaking as well as
Khoesan-speaking cultures. Some of these bows are large and may be played by two
persons, in which case they are called n!aoh in Kxoe language. These hunting bows are
often played in a manner that emphasizes rhythm above melody. It is important to note
that these bows are not constructed or played in an identical fashion by all Namibian
cultures. For example, the player’s mouth may surround the wood in the center of the