Thumb Piano
Item number Ac253 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
Item number Ac253 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.
The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.
These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.
This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.
Thin brown smooth-backed wood piece. Narrow rectangular wood platform has on top seven metal tongues (keys), once nine, evenly-spaced in a row, placed lengthwise to the wood piece, and held in place by a lateral bar wrapped in metal strips that are inserted into the wood piece through to the back. Length of knotted hide strung through two holes at same end. Large hole in the middle of the wood piece. Lateral bar inserted in the edge with two loosely-wrapped metal bands. Carved with a main geometric design consisting of four parallel horizontal bands, from top to bottom: diagonal lines, opposing diagonal lines, four double-outlined u-curves, and four upside down u forms with diagonals inside.
The sanza, or mbira (Shona language) is a plucked idiophone (or lamellaphone) that has been in use for thousands of years, and is played widely throughout the African continent. It is known by many different names, e.g., kilembe, likembe, kadono, akogo, timbrh, and thumb piano and has undergone variations, such as the kalimba, but the general style and function remain consistent. The instrument has been played for both secular and ceremonial use, e.g., around the fire during social evenings, or to commicate with the ancestors.
Musical instrument.
The collector, Nellie Taylor, served as a nursing missionary (1900-1920), first with the Ovimbundu at Bihe, then with the Chokwe at luma Kasai. She belonged to a group who sponsored several missions across Central Africa from 1881-1931.
This data has been provided to the RRN by the MOA: University of British Columbia. We've used it to provide the information on the Data tab.
Musical instrument.
Thin brown smooth-backed wood piece. Narrow rectangular wood platform has on top seven metal tongues (keys), once nine, evenly-spaced in a row, placed lengthwise to the wood piece, and held in place by a lateral bar wrapped in metal strips that are inserted into the wood piece through to the back. Length of knotted hide strung through two holes at same end. Large hole in the middle of the wood piece. Lateral bar inserted in the edge with two loosely-wrapped metal bands. Carved with a main geometric design consisting of four parallel horizontal bands, from top to bottom: diagonal lines, opposing diagonal lines, four double-outlined u-curves, and four upside down u forms with diagonals inside.
The collector, Nellie Taylor, served as a nursing missionary (1900-1920), first with the Ovimbundu at Bihe, then with the Chokwe at luma Kasai. She belonged to a group who sponsored several missions across Central Africa from 1881-1931.
The sanza, or mbira (Shona language) is a plucked idiophone (or lamellaphone) that has been in use for thousands of years, and is played widely throughout the African continent. It is known by many different names, e.g., kilembe, likembe, kadono, akogo, timbrh, and thumb piano and has undergone variations, such as the kalimba, but the general style and function remain consistent. The instrument has been played for both secular and ceremonial use, e.g., around the fire during social evenings, or to commicate with the ancestors.
Let the RRN community answer your questions
With an account, you can ask other users a question about this item. Request an Account
Share your knowlege of this item with the RRN community
With an account, you can submit information about this item and have it visible to all users and institutions on the RRN. Request an Account