The Gong Rock of the Serengeti
In the middle of the Serengeti lies a great stone that rings like metal when struck, covered in hollows from centuries of drumming.
What was reported
Among the rocky outcrops of the Moru Kopjes in the Serengeti lies a large, wedge-shaped boulder about 2 metres long. When struck with a smaller stone, it gives out clear, ringing, almost metallic notes, which change depending on where it is hit.
Its surface is covered in dozens of round hollows, worn by generations of people striking it. The Maasai are said to have used it to call people together for gatherings and ceremonies.
Explanations offered
Geologists explain that some granite boulders ring when struck because of their shape and the way they rest, which lets them vibrate freely. Archaeologists think the gong was used long before the Maasai arrived about two centuries ago, making it an ancient musical instrument.
- When
- Used for centuries
- Where
- Moru Kopjes, Serengeti, Tanzania
- Witnesses
- Maasai people, earlier communities and visitors
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.