The Thumb Piano

Research by Ryan

• The thumb piano is an instrument with widespread use throughout Africa.

• It has several names, including: mbira, sansa, and kalimbo.

• It is made out of small scraps of metal, all of different lengths, and any box or container with an opening to amplify the sound.

• All the scraps of metal are of different lengths, producing different pitches. The longer the scraps of metal, the lower the pitch. It can be decorated many different ways, and can come in many different sizes and shapes.

• It looks like the picture below, with few variations.

• Although the thumb piano is widespread throughout Africa, we believe it originated in Nigeria. 

• The first recorded finding of the thumb piano was in 1586 in Nigeria by Portuguese explorers.

• Many cultures put it to many uses, mainly for general entertainment.

• It is also used in cultural ceremonies and rituals. The thumb piano was considered a sacred instrument and was used to communicate with spirits.

• What the thumb piano teaches us about the users is that they were very artistic and creative.

• They use everything they have to spare and are not wasteful.

• It also shows that the users have spanned back hundreds of years because it was found in 1586 by Portuguese explorers.