These ritual gongs were part of the regalia of the Tsogo men’s professional association known as Evóvi. Composed of lawyers, diplomats, judges and orators, the organization is responsible for safeguarding such crucial information as the histories of clans and lineages. As emblems of status and leadership, ritual bells are markers of membership as well as theatrical props, which add emphasis to the pronouncements and gestures of respected elders. The white pigment that covers the face of the bell on the left likely references the association’s relationships with ancestors and the spiritual realm.