Musical Stones

Another relic of Namibian history is “The Musical Stone” on the farm Rooipunt, situated in the magisterial district of Bethanië in the Karas Region. The farm is 100 km south of the town of Bethanië itself. The stone is located south of the river on which the farmhouse is built. From the farmhouse road, visitors can follow the track next to the southern bank of the river. The road leading there is not maintained and is not accessible by vehicle. As it is on private land, the owner’s permission must be obtained before proceeding. Not far away is a large dolomite rock.

This easily identifiable landmark is known as “The Musical Stone”. It is so called because of a series of lighter spots formed, especially around the top piece of rock, caused by it repeatedly being hit by smaller rocks. A loud ringing sound is clearly audible once the rock has been struck with a large stone. Because the holes are of different sizes, they emit different pitches. A second “Musical Stone” lies next to the larger one, but has been played less. Behind the Stone Age musical instrument, a rock surface has been cleared, more than likely used as a dance floor. Similar cleared areas have been recorded at other ringing-rock sites in southern Africa, often associated with communal gatherings or ritual activities.

The musically minded might like to take time out from their safari in Namibia to visit this rather unusual site and try out one of their favourite ditties. Various grooves have been hollowed out on the “sounding spots”, and potential Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble lovers can play out a tune even today. Visitors should note that repeated striking can gradually erode the surface, so occasional rather than vigorous playing is recommended to preserve its acoustic qualities.

There are only a few known instances of “Musical Stones” in Namibia. Others can be found on Aar Farm in the south and in the Omaruru district. Scherz has also designated a “Musical Stone” on Farm Schönfeld (now Immenhof). There are some more near Kimberley in South Africa. A quirky local tradition is for those on honeymoon in Namibia to get naked and then play their wedding song on the Musical Stone; this is reputed to bring good luck and an abundance of cattle to one’s herd. Although the origins of this custom are unclear, it is commonly retold in local folklore, contributing to the site’s charm.

In addition to the Musical Stone, a number of rock engravings adorn the slabs of rock around the main attraction. They enjoy protection under the National Monuments Act, even though they have not been proclaimed a national monument. The Musical Stone itself was proclaimed a national monument on 15 August 1963. The engravings include abstract motifs and simple animal forms typical of central and southern Namibian rock art traditions.