Democratic Republic of Congo
Tabwa

Wood, metal
Early-Mid 20th Century
Length: 8.5 inches
Idiophones – Lamellophones – Plucked

A figural Tabwa likembe (sanza) from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is hand carved from one piece of wood. The sound is produced by bending and then releasing the metal tongues with the fingers. The vibrating tongue (lamellae) are fixed to a base and lifted by a U-shaped iron bridge, allowing them to vibrate once plucked.  This lamellophone is typical of a likembe in this region with a characteristic cut-out section in the back and a series of holes bored into the sounding board.