| The kalimba
(also called mbira, likembe or thumb piano) is a plucked idiophone
unique to Africa and widely distributed throughout the continent.
It is commonly played as an accompaniment to song, but in some areas
it is used for purely instrumental music.
Kalimbas have played a part in African culture for 800 years. After
work in the evening, Africans sit in a circle, tell beautiful stories,
sing and play kalimba. They are also used to pass the time on long
journeys on foot.
The kalimba consists of a set of
tuned metal or bamboo tongues of varying length fitted to a board,
box or calabash resonator, their free ends being twanged by the
player's thumbs and fingers. Board mounted kalimbas are often
played inside gourds or bowls for increased resonance.
We offer kalimbas for the professional
musician and for the beginning music maker. We have a 12 note tunable
that is African made and a budget 8 note from Africa as well. We
also found some wonderful American made kalimbas that we had to
offer as well.
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