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Title: Mbira Thumb Piano in Turtle Shell, DR Congo
Type of Object: Musical instrument
Ethnic Group/Tribe: Unknown
Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Materials: Wood, turtle shell, pigment, resin, metal
Approximate Age: Mid 20th Century
Dimensions: 8 inches
Overall Condition: Good
Damage, Repair: Chips on side, missing metal keys
Additional Information: Thumb pianos existed in 1589, when a missionary wrote about it. Varieties of it are made throughout western, central and southern Africa. I have a Nigerian friend who has told me wonderful stories about village life in his Igbo village in Nigeria. He had an uncle who played the thumb piano every night....one by one, children fell asleep, and their parents carried them off to bed. In his forties, my friend says he still remembers countless nights on his father's shoulder, hearing the sound of the thumb piano.
Recommended Reading: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF AFRICA, by Huwiler
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