‖phalaphala, noun

/ˌpalaˈpaːla/
Forms:
Also phalafala, phalafhala.
Origin:
SetswanaShow more Setswana phala. The origin and meaning of the second element has not been discovered.
A wind instrument made from the horns of the sable antelope and originally used by the northern Sotho and Tswana peoples.
1931 H.A. Stayt BaVenda 317The sable-antelope horns, phala-fhala, are the most important [musical instrument] and are played in the Ibondo and around the chief’s village. They are blown through a small rectangular hole in the side about 8 inches from the point, to which the lips are pressed as with an ordinary bugle.
1980 D.B. Coplan Urbanization of African Performing Arts. 187Pedi and Tswana people regarded brass instruments as superior modern replacements for their reeds and drums...In addition to reed-flutes, Pedi-Tswana signal horns (phalaphala) gave way to the bugle and trumpet.
1984 Pace Oct. 14 (caption)A lady blowing a phalafala at a UDF rally.
A wind instrument made from the horns of the sable antelope and originally used by the northern Sotho and Tswana peoples.
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PFP, nounn.pheasant, nounn.
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