Mana embudzi TIC 129 B from Changara, Mozambique

Mana embudzi: "TIC 129"

Reference Key:	B (closest chromatic pitch)
Key Count:	29
Sound Info:	Buzzers dampened.
Maker:	unknown
Place Made:	Changara, Mozambique
Origin:	Sena/Tonga
Made in/before:	1933
Comments:	From Andrew Tracey's Mbira Catalogue: "Coll Hugh Tracey 1933 in the same village in Moz as he also bought a njari, a nyonganyonga (which has never appeared since), and a karimba. HT identified it as 'mbira dza Watonga'. But where was this village? Perhaps in his notes. A particularlv well made instrument." From ILAM's Instrument Inventory: "No.1. Rattle plate with 17 snail shell buzzers. 10 keys in upper rank, 19 in lower rank, keys incised/decorated at top end. Flat bar with incised triangles, held with 3 rivets. Bell-shaped body (i.e. hollowed from the bottom end), light wood, with side walls. Screw eye in back. Triple carry string goes through ‘ears’, H: 198, W: at bottom 180. Well-made instr. Coll. HT 1932, pictured in his article in African Music as No. 13. This type of mbira seems to be very rare now, having given way largely to the matepe or njari. 'Mana embudzi mbira' means goat's teeth. Also known under the general central Mozambique terms 'nsansi' and 'chisansi'." From Hugh Tracey's research notes: [SF:] There is a page (IMG_1281) captioned "Mbira (Watonga) like the Nsansi" that shows an identical layout. Since the two higher-octave LI keys seem quite unusual, and the page also has a note "in HTT collection", it is most likely the same instrument. The name/place "Kamu Koromora - Inyanga" is written on the page, as well as names for three ranges of keys: "Maghuni" for the 6 lowest bass keys "MaKwerero" for the remaining keys in the lower rank "Phinduphindu" for the keys in the upper rank A remark on the lowest key says "This note is weighted with wax".
Last known owner:	ILAM
Owner Contact:	Please get in touch.
Last known location:	Grahamstown, South Africa

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