An unusually large musical instrument known as ‘sanza’ or also ‘thumb piano’ (and locally referred to as ‘Marimba madogo’). It has a trapezoid resonating chamber. The ten iron ‘tongues’ that the sanza player ‘plucks’ with both thumbs in order to produce the sound, are stretched out on a frame made of iron and wood. Decorating the ‘sanza’ above is a very beautifully carved head, complete with neck, in the style of the Nyamwezi. It is also used as a handle.
The Nyanwezi are a big tribe in central Tanzania, south of Lake Victoria. The present ‘sanza’ of the Nyamwezi is made of hard wood and dyed black. The large, hollowed resonating chamber is closed off on the left side of the instrument by a thin plank and black resin. As necessary for a musical instrument, the resonating chamber has two openings: one sideways at the back and a central one underneath in addition to having a carrying strap a the top. This ‘thumb piano’ as a whole displays very good, old usage patina. There is minimal loss (to the right ear) and minor tears elsewhere on the head. Otherwise no damage. Dimensions: length: 64 cm (whole length, incl. head); the resonating chamber: length: 47.5 cm; width: 22 cm (above), 28 cm (below); height: 4-5 cm; the head and neck: height: 16 cm. First half to mid-20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
Acquired by the consignor in the border region between Congo and Tanzania in abound 1990.

Lit.:
'Tansania. Glaube, Kult und Geisterwelt' by Ralf Schulte-Bahrenberg, ch. 'Musikinstrumente', ill. 18 (a 'Sanza' of the Zela); 'Tanzania' by Marc L. Felix, Maria Kecskési and Jens Jahn, ill. V/14 (Nyamwezi heads).