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Start Over Object name Wooden hand piano
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 5-1570, 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 5-1573, 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 5-1571, 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.

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Current results range from 1959 to 1959

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