kalimba
An African thumb piano consisting of metal tines mounted on a wooden resonator, played by plucking with the thumbs to produce gentle, bell-like tones.
In Depth
The kalimba belongs to the broader family of lamellaphones (plucked idiophone instruments) known collectively as mbira, which have existed in Africa for over 3,000 years. The modern kalimba was popularized in its current form by ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey, who standardized the tuning and manufactured instruments for Western markets beginning in the 1950s. The instrument typically has 17 metal tines arranged in a fan pattern.
The kalimba's ethereal, music-box-like tone has made it popular worldwide. Earth, Wind & Fire featured it prominently on their hit "Kalimba Story." In recent years, the instrument has become a global phenomenon through social media, with millions of affordable Chinese-made kalimbas sold worldwide. Traditional African mbira instruments, however, differ significantly — the Zimbabwean mbira dzavadzimu, for instance, has a more complex layout and deeper cultural and spiritual significance.
The mbira/kalimba family is over 3,000 years old, making it one of the oldest instrument types in continuous use — ancient iron-tined examples have been found in archaeological sites across sub-Saharan Africa.