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Kazoo

Voice activated mirliton, voice disguiser. A long-necked gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) with a large circular hole at the base. A membrane originally covered the hole at the top of the neck of the gourd (the membrane pictured is not original). This produced a buzzing sound when the musician sang into the round hole cut into the side of the neck on the outside of the curve.

  • Culture:Bemba
  • Period:
  • Materials:gourd
  • Specific materials/techniques:
  • Decorative elements:
  • Inscriptions:
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:242 Tube- or vessel-kazoos
  • Repository:Horniman Museum and Gardens
  • Measurements:overall: 262 x 140 mm