Collection place: Africa / Culture or time period: Bantu (Zone H) / Function: 5.4 Secular and Religious Musical Instruments - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Collection place Africa Culture or time period Bantu (Zone H) Function 5.4 Secular and Religious Musical Instruments

Hearst Museum object titled Drum, accession number 5-1647, described as Ordinary drum; 25” high, 10 1/2” diameter.

Hearst Museum object titled Gourd rattle, accession number 5-1636, described as Tsasi--dance rattle of four wooden balls containing seeds; 3” x 3” x 1 1/2”

Hearst Museum object titled Instrument, accession number 5-13882, described as Instrument., Zaire, Bakongo (Kongo). 5-13882, acc no. 3510. Orig No. 79112 File code: 5.4 Collector: unknown Donor: Dr. & Mrs. Mitsuo Inouye. Materials, techniques: Wood, iron, copper wire Description: Thumb piano; dark brown wood with two anthropomorphic heads at top; incised diamonds on sides; 6 iron keys held in place by metal crossbar and copper wire; h. 22 cm.

Hearst Museum object titled Wooden hand piano, accession number 5-1569, described as Children’s Kisanji (marimba) to imitate drum. All wood. 6 by 21 inches. Suku. Kisanji-Marimba is the general central African name. Suku name is Kisanji. This one was collected among Eastern Suku. The low notes it produces are said by children to imitate drums.

Hearst Museum object titled Wooden hand piano, accession number 5-1573, described as Chief’s Kisanji(Marimba); 6 by 25 inches. Suku. Prerogative of chief’s only-- played when chief drinks palm wine or when he travels. The right to this large kisanji must be obtained initially from the king by a chief. Once obtained, the right devolves upon the chief’s successors. Ordinarily there are two players of these, playing simultaneously. On trips, the chief is accompanied by two such players, who also sing, and by a drum.

Hearst Museum object titled Wooden hand piano, accession number 5-1570, described as Children’s Kisanji (Marimba). All wood. 4.75 by 13.5 inches. Suku. Collected from Eastern Suku. This is cheap, easy to make children’s version of plucking “pianos” (marimba) made of metal.

Hearst Museum object titled Wooden hand piano, accession number 5-1571, described as Kisanji(Marimba); 3 by 8 inches. Suku. Bisanju (singular kisanji). Collected from Eastern Suku. Used by young men and adults generally. Most often they are used by individuals singly, playing for themselves -- often on walking trips. They are seldom integrated with other instruments. Per inventory 6/13/12, found in a bag with fragments.

Hearst Museum object titled Wooden hand piano (kisanji marimba-suku), accession number 5-1572, described as Kisanji(Marimba); 5.5 by 13 inches. Suku.