Zimbabwean Idiophone ("Thumb Piano"): "Mbira"
Collection: Spiritual Connections
The mbira is made from a flat block of hardwood. The top end of the soundboard is closed off by a long block of wood that serves as the backrest for tongues of metal. The tongues are pounded thinner and wider at their sounding end than at their anchored end. They are held in place with a metal pressure bar. The playing end of each tongue is arched upward to varying degrees to create different tones. For playing, the mbira is wedged into a hollow gourd half to create a resonator.
Different peoples of Zimbabwe produce slightly different versions of this instrument. It is used both for religious ceremonies, particularly spirit possession ceremonies, called "bira", and in secular settings.
Source:
https://omeka-s.grinnell.edu/s/MusicalInstruments/item/1828