Northern, central, and southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.

Maasai

Goard, Hide, Cowrie Shells, Cow Horn, Metal Strings
Early 20th Century
Length: 20cm (9 inches); Width: 17cm (7 inches)
Chordophone – Bow/Harp – Plucked

The cowrie (cowry) shells on this Maasai arch harp adds significant meaning to this instrument.  Cowrie shells were probably first introduced into sub-Saharan Africa by the caravans of Arab traders possibly as early as the 8th century.  By the 15th century they were circulated as money.  These attractive humble white shells were used as a form of barter and served as a means of payment, as well as a symbol of wealth and power up to the 20th century.   

Cowrie shells also worked their way into the cultural fiber, taking on significant  symbolic and ritualist meaning.  For some tribes the cowrie is a protective charm (gris-gris), a divination tool for fortune-tellers, an element in traditional medicine or may accompany the dead on their journeys out of this world.   

Comes from an Australian Collection and was collected in the 1970’s. Rare with signs of usage and age.