Kalimba – Burkina Gourd
AU $44.00 – AU $80.00
Hand crafted from a calabash gourd which adds extra resonance and warmth to the soulful melodies.
Upcycled adjustable metal keys, so you can find your preferred tuning.
Available in two sizes and adorned with cool designs.
We are proud to support our Artist friends who make these cool instruments in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa.
More Details
Kalimba (thumb piano), handmade in Burkina Faso from natural calabash gourd and reclaimed wood, with recycled steel hardware. Featuring flame-etched artwork in the wooden face and gourd.
The kalimba is a westernized version of a traditional plucked instrument from Zimbabwe called an mbira. Similar instruments such as njari and zanzu have existed all over Africa for thousands of years. The metal tines are tunable, so you can play however you like! Simply sliding the tines up or down to adjust the pitch. When a tine is plucked, the adjacent tines also vibrate. This increases the harmonic complexity of each note in an interesting and pleasant way.
Dimensions:
Large (5 Notes) Approx. 17cm diameter x 8cm depth
Extra Large (10-12 Notes) Approx. 23cm diameter x 11cm depth
As these instruments are handmade, dimensions may vary. One per unit, pictures provided for reference only.
See these instruments in action in our video below!
LISTEN TO THIS INSTRUMENT
We recommend using good quality headphones for all our sound grabs – they’re recorded at high fidelity for your listening pleasure!
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You’re welcome to call us on (03) 9525 3073 or email us [email protected]
