Thumb piano with resonator; (a) gourd resonator with a string attached; diameter opening 9 cm; (b) thumb piano: wood base with hole in center, concave sides; iron keys; length 15 cm.
Donor:
Florence M. Frost
Collection place:
Africa
Verbatim coll. place:
Union of S. Africa; Natal; Zulu
Materials:
Mahogany (wood) and Wrought iron (iron alloy)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Gourds (plant components) and Sansas (thumb pianos)
Accession date:
1968
Context of use:
Donor saw this spec. being played at a wedding. Wedding notes: Kraal was on a hillock by a stream. The bridegroom's party wound down the hillock; the bridal part come from the other side of the stream. Approx. 500 people attended the wedding. Bride not visible now because she is surrounded by her party. About 25 men sat cross-legged playing the thumb pianos (as an orchestra). The young men with the bridegroom danced, and young men from the bride's party also danced. Finally, the maids surrounding the bride parted and she came forth with a knife, danced and cut grass for thatching. The mother of the bridegroom came with a broom sweeping in a dance, to sweep the path of her future daughter-in-law of all obstacles. Photograph 15-25442 shows dancing man with shield at this wedding