Native to Central Africa, the Mbira (or Sanza or "kalimba" or "thumb piano") is a melodic instrument much played by story tellers and musicians fond of entrancing sounds.

Thumb pianos exist in various forms, using different scales and modes for their key-tuning, different materials (metal, wood...) for their construction.
Usually, a sanza player holds his/her instrument with both hands, plucking the keys (metal or wooden blades) with the tip of his/her thumbs. Some models have to be laid down on a flat surface.

This particular model is the traditionnal Mbira from Zimbabwe with bottle tops mounted on a metal plate. This produces the particular buzz well known by the sanza players. The tuning is F diatonic scale without no quarte (Bb)

Details
15 metal keys
Tone: F
Width: 5.5"
Length: 7"
Thickness: 0.8"
Weight: around 320 g

NB: Tuning is adjustable by re-positioning the blades (keys) forwards or backwards.

See other African instruments !