Zambezi Valley
Zambian or Zimbabwean

Wood, metal, braided fiber rope
Early-Mid 20th Century
Length: 5 in, Width: 4 in, Depth: 1 in
Idiophone – Plucked – Lamellophone

From the seventeenth century on, small fan-shaped and tray-shaped portable lamelophones became popular among the porters who accompanied Portuguese traders on the trade routes from Zambezi, Tete, and Sena, to northern points such as Angola.  These early instruments, referred to as ‘nsani’ were held into a gourd-resonator during performances to amplify the sound.  As seen here, they have retained characteristics over the years of a tray-shape, with a circular hole in the center.  The metal keys (lamellas) are restrained by a metal bar and fiber rope over a broad U-shape iron bridge.