code: 2024-II-LC

an African carved wooden object, known as a

Madibu / Dibu or Ndibu - a Hunting Bell 

surmounted by a dog and decorated on the sides with

a carved in relief stylised tortoise and face / mask,

the former owner described this object as being from the 

Woyo People, from Cabinda, Bakongo, 

we see a single piece of wood, hollow carved with convex sides, with as handle a dog with open mouth, showing it’s teeth, at the base two holes, each with a clapper, the clappers are being hold inside by rope, the rope is put in through holes on the sides.

Bells called madibu (sing. dibu ) with internal clapperboards, are for magical or religious use in the initiation ceremonies of the khimba society, but mainly used by witch doctors Nganga to punctuate certain ceremonies linked to the cult of n’kisi spirits. The beating of the bell is supposed to attract the attention of the spirits consulted. The Nganga also uses the madibu bells during the research he carries out to identify a n'doki or soul eater.
Bells similar to the madibu type are also used for hunting. The bell is attached to the dog's neck or belly. Because Congo hunting dogs cannot bark, they are located by their bells. Thereby the hunter would know precisely where the dogs were in tracking the prey. 

The tortoise symbol is used for it's close contact with the earth - the ground of the ancestors

condition: firm, authentic patine, signs of age and handling, perhaps a piece of the tail is missing,

age: unknown, but probably first half 20th Century

provenance: a private collection of African tribal art in The Netherlands, collected since 1960

length: circa 14 cm / circa 5.5 inch

max. width: circa 5,5 cm / circa 2.1 inch

max. depth: circa 3,5 cm / circa 1.3 inch

weight: circa 33 gram

- the last 2 pictures are only informative and not included with the sale - 

please note: we are not experts, after limited, unprofessional research we have attributed this item to a land, country, tribe or people, to the best we could, do judge for yourself the tribal affilation and the correct age before buying or bidding, we will not accept returns if the buyer finds that we are wrong concerning these matters, so we sell "as is"


world wide shipping:


- you will be ordering registrated shipment provided by PostNL from The Netherlands, EU


- according to their conditions and destinations


- if possible with priority, tracking and insurance for loss during shipment offered by PostNL


- shipment out of the EU will be under Incoterm DAP and HS-code 9705.10




we are: delta 98 den haag


The Hague, The Netherlands, EU


registrated at the Chambers of Commerce The Hague:


Kamer van Koophandel Haaglanden, file: 27133335