Nigeria
Chamba

Bronze
Late 19th-Early 20th century
Bell Height: 8.75 ”  Length of longest clanger: 9 “
Idiophone – Struck Directly  – Metal Bell

This set of a bell and clangers/strikers  are from the Chamba people of the remote Benue River Valley region.  The Chamba people seem to have a great variety of iron currency forms and this may be the case that when forged iron currency is not specifically identified it is associated with the Chamba.  The bell shaped form and narrow clangers/strikers are attached to a ring that allows for the metal clangers/strikers to strike the bell when swung as a group.  The ring also allows for each attachment to be removed separately as currency.  Forged iron currency has a long history throughout west Africa dating back to the first millennium from evidence of iron working in northern Nigeria. The convertibility of forged iron objects such as musical and ritual instruments into other objects makes it an ideal form of currency. The Chamba people practice traditional ancestral spirit religion.

Source:  Dr. Daniel Mato, Professor Emeritus of Art History, The University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada