Mbila

Gourd-resonated, portable xylophone set of ten wooden keys, suspended and attached to a frame with twine lacing (rawhide remains suggest that this material might have been originally used for lacing). The keys are suspended over a central, longitudinal strut with bored holes for each key that connect to the respective, graded-size gourd resonators underneath (most of the gourds are missing). Each gourd receives a mirliton membrane. Additional strips of wood with shallow notches along the upper edge are also laced and attached to the strut, arranging the keys in pairs. The strut ends connect with an U-shaped wooden frame (handle) with shallow notches along the upper edges of sides. The tenon-joints would also connect to a wooden foot on each end, which are missing here. The instrument would have been played with a pair of beaters with wooden handles and natural rubber heads, also missing.