Dibu's superb hunting bell. - Bakongo - DR Congo

Originating from the Kongo peoples of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and the Republic of the Congo, the Dibu bells (or dibondo) are metal objects that are both utilitarian and sacred. Made of wrought iron, sometimes copper alloy, these bells are recognizable by their stocky shape, their handle often decorated, and their deep, resonant sound.
They are used as signaling instruments during ceremonies, gatherings, or funeral rites. Their sound marks the beginning or end of an event, calls the spirits, or sets the rhythm for dances. In the Kongo tradition, the Dibu bells also embody the words of the ancestors and serve as a link between the living and the invisible world.
Their manufacture, reserved for skilled smiths, follows a rigorous process: the metal is melted, hammered and shaped according to ancestral techniques. Some bells bear engraved motifs (faces, animals, symbols), adding an aesthetic and symbolic dimension.
Today, these objects are also valued for their ethnographic significance and their role in preserving Kongo traditions. Each Dibu bell remains a testament to the technical ingenuity and spirituality of this people.

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