Lake Tanganyika region of southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Tabwa

Wood, hide, string
Early-20th century
Length: 22 inches; Width: 6 inches; Depth: 4.5 inches
Chordophone – Harps

Harps and other stringed instruments are among the important art forms in Africa, used both as musical instrument and as a work of sculpture that is significant in many religious and secular ceremonial functions, including dance, rituals, and storytelling.  The new Tabwa rulers looked to ancestry to legitimize their right to lead, invoking  a chiefly lineage through sculptural representations of royal predecessors.  This Tabwa pluriarc (harp) made of wood, is organic in shape representing a person (anthropomorphic), possibly an ancestor.  It has four strings and a hide covered resonator.  The hide is attached by wooden pegs.  On the side of the resonator are carved arms at a resting position.   The posture is one of standing straight representing an ‘in-charge’ and respected attitude.   

This pluriarch has four highly curved tension arcs that fit into cutout grooves in the back of the neck and head, and are inserted into holes in the back of the main resonator body.  Each arc has its own curvature and one rope made of  vegetable fiber, that is coiled and fixed at the end of the arc.  These ropes extend to the leather soundboard where each is tied to a separate small stick that is inserted into a hole in the hide soundboard.  The pluriarc is played by plucking the individual strings with the fingers.