Description (Physical description)
Xylophone (harmonica) with gourd resonators. The instrument is composed of strips of hard wood attached loosely to a frame, stands on a skeleton frame.
Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Field collection)
This object is from West Africa, but it is not known exactly where; the accession register and catalogue cards simply read West Africa. An old label attached to the object mentions a very similar object that came from Nigeria. Thus, ?Nigeria has been added speculatively to the place field. The object's bag was previously labelled Sierra Leone, which is also written on a newer label; however, it is not clear where this information comes from so it will not be added to the place field for now.
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff

Description (Labels & Markings)
One key has Z 26047 and Z 4692 written on it in white ink. This key went missing and was mistakenly reaccessioned with two different Z numbers, but was eventually reunited with the rest of the object.
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff

Description (Physical description)
Description for Z 26047: 'Key from wooden xylophone'
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff

Context (Related Documents)
Old labels tied to object adds: "A Nigerian piano very like this was played by a Native at Wembley, 1925; it was called BALANYANGYAI"; "West Africa No Prov"; "Sierra Leone"
Event Date
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Xylophone or balafon, possibly a Balanyangyai, with 16 rectangular wooden keys attached to a frame with fibre. Each key has a gourd resonator suspended below it with fibre, with larger gourds for the longer, lower keys and smaller gourds for shorter, higher keys. The gourds have holes in the sides which have been covered with squares of paper. The gourds are all contained within the xylophone's frame, which is constructed from pieces of wood, joined at the corners with fibre and thin strips of hide, with a curved section at the larger end decorated with incised linear decoration. Some of the keys are loose.
Event Date 11/4/2022
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff

Context (Amendments / updates)
This xylophone was found to be missing a key by Alex Nadin on 15/7/2003. Today, an individual key was found in an Africa Unprovenanced musical instrument box, with the idno Z 26047. The key was compared against the xylophone, and was found to be the same material, shape, and thickness as the others from the xylophone. The size fits with the rest of the instrument and, most importantly, the pitching matches. It has therefore been concluded that Z 26047 is the missing key from 1920.319. The records have been combined and the spare deleted.
Event Date 11/4/2022
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff

Context (Analysis)
This may be a Balafon, a type of xylophone. This is more likely if it is from Sierra Leone or elsewhere in West Africa, but less likely if it is from Nigeria.
Event Date 13/4/2022
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff

Exhibition (Spotlight Gallery)
EXH.2022.11 | Spotlight on Stores Move
Event Date 25/7/2022
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Display)
Displayed as part of the Spotlight on Stores Move exhibition. Caption provided by Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff: 'Pitch perfect. I love music, so when I discovered a lost balafon (xylophone) key I was determined to find its home. I located a balafon missing a key, slotted my key into the gap, checked the pitching with a tap, and it matched! You can see it here, third from the left.'
Event Date 4/2023
Author: Katrina Dring