Context (Related Documents)
A green label attached to the object reads: 'A MARIMBA of calabash is hand made by young men using steel like keys, mounted on a wooden base. It is played using both thumbs. The tune is determined by the length of the keys and the maker. It is a personal instrument played by the owner quietly, not as we would think in a band, a very ancient instrument.'
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff

Context (Field collection)
This object was collected by Julia Tanner while undertaking fieldwork in South Africa from March-May 2000. The fieldwork was financed by UCMAA's Crowther-Beynon Fund, in order to research and update UCMAA's South African collections.
This item was purchased on 19 May 2000 from a shop called 'Siyakatala: Hand-crafted Artwork from South Africa' in the Blue Shed, The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Art and Craft Market, The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town. The mbira was purchased from the proprietor, Melanie Adler. The shop business card reads: 'Siyakâ' is the Xhosa way of saying 'we do care'. This item is a product of a self-help group. Like all our products at Siyakatala it enables destitute people to support themselves and their families.

The mbira was made by Zulu men working on a farm outside Johannesburg. Mbiras are also sometimes referred to as hand pianos, kalimbas, likembes and sanzas. Many musical instruments are made for the tourist market. Mbiras or hand pianos are one of the most common types. Others include drums and whistles.
Bibliography:
1) Bebey, F., 1975. African Music: a people's art. London: Harrap.
2) Brincard, M-T. (ed), 1989. Sounding Forms: African Musical Instruments. New York: American Federation of Arts.
3) Gray, J., 1991. African Music: a bibliographical guide to the traditional, popular, art and liturgical musics of sub-Saharan Africa. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
4) Kirby, P.R., 1953. The Musical Instruments of the Native Races of South Africa. Johannesburg: University of the Witwatersrand Press.
5) Tracey, A., 1972. The original African mbira?. African Music Vol.5, No.2.
Event Date 2000
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Mbira composed of a calabash base and wooden top. The wooden top is decorated with 4 sets of triple parallel lines burnt around the central sounding hole at the sides, top and bottom. A small hole in the upper right of the instrument (as viewed) is threaded with a short thong. The mbira has eight metal keys mounted on a wooden strut.
Event Date 5/5/2012
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Mbira. A pear-shaped sanza, with a calabash base and wooden top. It has eight metal keys mounted on a wooden strut and braced against a metal rest with a metal bar. The wooden top is decorated with 4 sets of triple parallel lines burnt around the central sounding hole at the sides, top and bottom. A small hole in the wider end is threaded with a short hide thong, with white fur still attached.
Event Date 5/1/2023
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff

Context (Production / use)
The mbira is tuned to a standard arpeggio.
Event Date 5/1/2023
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff