Mana embudzi

This instrument class represents the Mana embudzi (~goat's teeth) from central Mozambique. "Mana embudzi" is the spelling introduced in literature by Andrew Tracey, spellings in other local dialects include "Mano yambuzi" and "Meno yembidzi". It is also known by the generic local names for lamellophones Nsansi and Chisansi.

The notations for the mana embudzi are a synthesis of the layouts of eight instruments, documented and/or acquired by Hugh & Andrew Tracey, between the 1930s and 70s.

The mana embudzi is a heptatonic mbira (there is one hexatonic exception in the documented instruments), played with four fingers. Within the sample set, the layouts are very homogeneous and regular - except for the LI manual: Though it usually consists of only two keys, the choice of pitches vary greatly among different specimen. Most common are scale degrees 1 and 2.

In comparison to other mbiras, the range of the manuals is most similar to the "big" karimba:

Therefore one could perhaps view the mana embudzi as a kind of outstretched karimba (or the karimba as a v-shaped mana embudzi). However, mana embudzi bass notes can only be reached with the left thumb, on the karimba with both thumbs, which is why the latter may offer more flexibility in terms of playing.

We don't know if the mana embudzi is still played today. At the beginning of 2023, Tatenda Lenade Cangola, together with Sekuru Augusto Manejo, went on a multi-day trip to Manejo's former home region to locate remaining Mana embudzi or Nyonganyonga players, but without success.

Manejo himself has built this type of mbira, or a similar one, which he calls Ntchanje yatsviru) in earlier years.

Sementi's 24-key Nsansi
Photo by Andrew Tracey (1970), Courtesy ILAM
    
29-key Mana embudzi (TIC 129)
acquired by Hugh Tracey in 1932
Reference key
The leftmost key of the left lower manual (LL1 in Pitch notation) serves as our reference key.

For all but one of the instruments in our example set, the LL manual starts with scale degree 1,. The single exception starts one key lower, however all instruments skip scale degree 2,, so that characteristic gap might provide an additional hint to locate the reference key.

Notations
Currently there are two notations. They are called All of them employ an additional track for Hosho [down]beats (denoted by a dot ".").

There are five (or six) playing areas:

  • RI: Keys on the upper right end of the main manual, played with the index finger
  • RT: Keys in the center-right of the main manual, played with the thumb
    There is no fixed transition point between thumb and index finger keys in this manual, depending on the piece many keys are played with either finger.
  • RL: Right thumb lower extra manual
    So far only documented by Andrew Tracey on one instrument.
  • LU: Main portion of the upper manual, ascending to the right, played with the left thumb
  • LI: Leftmost 2-4 keys of the upper manual, sometimes ascending to the left, played with the left thumb
    In one instance, Andrew Tracey indicated the entire LU manual as played with the index finger.
  • LL: Lower end of the main manual, played with the left thumb
All notations are convertible to and from Pitch. If a direct translation between two notations is not available, use an intermediate step across Pitch.

Click on the tabs below for a description of each notation:

Scale degrees are numbered from 1 to 6; 1 being the reference key of the instrument (which in most cases is the lowest key of all manuals, as in the picture above). It is the same as the Pitch+Octaves notation, with all octave indication omitted where it can be deduced from the playing area.

Key Overview
The table below shows all keys of the notation, from lowest to highest. Each row contains all possible keys for that playing area. Each column contains all keys of the same pitch.

Not all instruments may have keys matching all these notes. Red notes are alias names for the same key, if it can be played with different fingers.

Hosho.
RI3/4/5671234
RT6712345
RL34567
LU23456712'3'
LI4,5,6,7,12345672'3'
LL7,,134567
Aliases
The table below lists all alias keys. Row names are shown in black, cell content in red.
KeyAliasNotes
LL6RT6LL6, key played with the right thumb instead of the left thumb
LL7RT7LL7, key played with the right thumb instead of the left thumb
RT3RI3/RT3 key played with right index finger instead of the thumb
LU3LI3LU3 key played with the left index finger instead of the left thumb
RT4RI4/RT4 key played with right index finger instead of the thumb
LU4LI4LU4 key played with the left index finger instead of the left thumb
RI5RT5RI5 key played with right thumb instead of the index finger
LU5LI5LU5 key played with the left index finger instead of the left thumb
LU6LI6LU6 key played with the left index finger instead of the left thumb
LU7LI7LU7 key played with the left index finger instead of the left thumb

Same numbers as the Pitch notation, but full octave indication.

Key Overview
The table below shows all keys of the notation, from lowest to highest. Each row contains all possible keys for that playing area. Each column contains all keys of the same pitch.

Not all instruments may have keys matching all these notes. Red notes are alias names for the same key, if it can be played with different fingers.

Hosho.
RI345671'2'3'4'
RT6,7,12345
RL3,4,5,6,7,
LU2345671'2'3'
LI4,5,6,7,12345672'3'
LL7,,1,3,4,5,6,7,
Aliases
The table below lists all alias keys. Row names are shown in black, cell content in red.
KeyAliasNotes
LL6,RT6,LL6, key played with the right thumb instead of the left thumb
LL7,RT7,LL7, key played with the right thumb instead of the left thumb
RT3RI3RT3 key played with right index finger instead of the thumb
LU3LI3LU3 key played with the left index finger instead of the left thumb
RT4RI4RT4 key played with right index finger instead of the thumb
LU4LI4LU4 key played with the left index finger instead of the left thumb
RI5RT5RI5 key played with right thumb instead of the index finger
LU5LI5LU5 key played with the left index finger instead of the left thumb
LU6LI6LU6 key played with the left index finger instead of the left thumb
LU7LI7LU7 key played with the left index finger instead of the left thumb