Kwandebele, South Africa
Ndebele

Wood, hide, fiber
Collected in 1980’s
Membranophone – Struck (Directly) – Single Headed

A drum called ‘matabele‘ of the Ndebele people that was field collected.  Southern Africa is a region whose traditional music is relatively little known outside the area. These three footed drums are normally played by the women and not the men. They are placed in rows with the drum heads facing the fires that the women cook on, so as to heat the air in the drum as well as to tighten the skin.  This ‘matabele‘ drum features a hand carved body from one log, with three arrow-point shaped feet and decorative low-relief geometric bands that are painted.  The hide head is held by several inserted wooden pegs and tightened by a leather band.

Field collected by Jenna Haselton of Mpumalanga, South Africa.  Jenna is a University Art Teacher in Pretoria, South Africa.  She worked with Ndebele women through an educational government grant.