South Africa
Zulu

Gourd, wood, hair, fiber rope, seeds
Mid 20th Century
Length: 11 inches
Idiophone – Struck Indirectly – Shaken 

 A Zulu gourd rattle (fruit of the Strychnos Spinosa tree) with burnt geometric designs.  The texture and colors of the hair suggests it comes from the mane of an animal and not its hide.  This hair encircles the bottom of the seed filled small gourd where a wooden handle/stick is inserted.  This type of rattle is rare as most African rattles are of the netted type.  In South Africa most rattles are made for dancing, mainly worn around the ankle, wrist, and/or waist.