The Waboo is the traditional bow used by the Bonda, an ancient tribal community of Odisha, particularly in the Malkangiri district. , this bamboo stave speaks of the rich tradition of hunting and self-reliance among the tribe in traditional tools.
The bow stave is made from a single piece of bamboo and is well shaped and finished according to the requirements and functions.. One end of the dorsal surface has a crisscross engraved design that likely serves a decorative purpose as well as that of aiding grip. The ventral side has three carved grooves on the stave with benefits to flexibility and strength.
Though the bowstring is missing, small projections on the ventral side near both ends of the stave indicate the points where the bowstring was attached. These projections are one of the important structural features in traditional bows aimed at holding the tension to launch the arrows.
The Waboo exemplifies the Bonda tribe's intimate knowledge of natural materials combined with a practical design. The Bonda Waboo, in conjunction with arrows (Omm), was thus used for hunting and for the defense of the tribes.