What Is A Kalimba Instrument

The kalimba is an African musical instrument with a wooden soundboard and metal keys. The 15-key kalimba that we are making at Juma Instruments is an instrument that originates from African ethnic groups in Southern Africa. In the classification of musical instruments the kalimba is in the category of lamellophones or plucked idiophones (Hornbostel-Sachs system).

Kalimba is one of the names used for this 15-key African lamellophone. Other language varieties are Nyunga nyunga, Nyonga nyonga and Karimba. Karimba translates to “little wooden xylophone” and Nyunga nyunga translates to “something little that causes fun trouble”…

Variations of the kalimba are found all across Africa, for example in Zambia they play the Kankobela which has 7 to 12 keys. In Congo they play the Likembe which has 8 keys in pentatonic tuning.

The 15-key kalimba comes tuned in a major key. For players who would like to play more keys we are making the 19-key kalimba, which has got the same basic tuning and layout as the 15-key kalimba but with additional keys from the same scale. We can make different types of kalimba and tunings (minor or custom) on request. You are most welcome to contact us to discuss the options.

To view the kalimbas available go to our category: Kalimba / Nyunga nyunga

Refer to more articles:  What Is Unsecured Bail

Juma Instruments are made by Zimbabwean instrument maker Dingiswayo Juma. They are quality and solid instruments that can last you a lifetime. All metal keys are hammered by hand and tuned with a tuner to ensure they are in pitch and can be played with other instruments. The soundboard is made of quality hardwood and artistically crafted into shape.

Examples of the tuning layout of the kalimba:

Tuning outline of the 15-key kalimba in G major Tuning of 19-key kalimba nyunga nyunga thumb piano in F major

15-key kalimba in G major 19-key kalimba in F major

At Kalimbashop we have different models and types of kalimba and mbira instruments for sale. View our handcrafted kalimba instruments. If you want to know more or have any questions you can email us at [email protected].

Did you enjoy this article? Your donation will be used to write and publish more information about African music. You can also fill out the donation form for projects here.

[paytium name=”Form name” description=”Payment description”] [paytium_field type=”dropdown” label=”Options” options=”5/10/15/20/25/30″ options_are_amounts=”true” /] [paytium_total /] [paytium_button label=”Pay” /] [/paytium]

Related Posts

What Does 150 Mean

Meaning of Numbers: The Number 150 The English phrase “hundred and fifty,” used for the number 150, is recorded 38 times in 34 King James Bible verses.You…

What To Wear To A Quince Men

You might be thinking that what do men wear to a quinceanera. There are many different quinceanera men’s dress code options available.You may be interested What Is…

What Is Porch Pick Up

What Is Porch Pick Up

APPLE | SPOTIFY | AUDIBLE Porch pick-up is an opportunity to offer a unique experience to your customer’s beyond the standard customer service. Before you do, it…

What Does Blue Underwear Mean On New Year's

What Does Blue Underwear Mean On New Year’s

New Year’s Eve is a time for celebration, reflection, and setting intentions for the year ahead. While many people focus on their outfits and accessories for the…

What Time Is Sentencing For Murdaugh

Alex Murdaugh’s theft of millions of dollars was about to be revealed so he killed his wife and son to buy time to figure a way out,…

What Is Hard Salami

Salami is a beloved deli meat, celebrated for its rich, savory flavors and versatility in various culinary creations. Among the myriad of salami varieties, Hard and Genoa…