Kiromboi or Krommoi Kiromboi are a hand held percussive instrument of the Bidayuh people of western Sarawak, in Borneo. They are made from two giant snail shells that are attached to the ends of a split bamboo stick so they lightly touch each other. A small stick is passed quickly between the snail shells so they rattle against each other producing a sound remarkably similar to that of the local frogs. This instrument is used to call rain when planting the rice paddies, as well as to call frogs after a large rainfall. Although not used anymore, they can occasionally still be found in some Bidayuh longhouses. Country: Sarawak, Malaysia Region: Asia Type: percussion
©  R. Raine-Reusch, May 2002