In slave-holding America, it was common to find in the quarters of any plantation’s slaves an object made of wood or gourd, hollowed out and fitted with metal tines on its surface: the kalimba (or malinba). This rudimentary percussion musical instrument was played by slaves during their few moments of leisure or, at the landowner’s request, in the manor house to entertain the family or guests.
With the abolition of slavery, the memory of this instrument remained, serving as a symbol of resilience and identity. Today, in the United States, we find the most renowned kalimba players who have driven the evolution of this instrument to its current form.
The West first encountered the kalimba during that dark period in American history. Speaking of kalimba players, the most famous and influential is Mark Holdaway, an American from Arizona, who, together with Sharon Eaton, developed the chromatic kalimba. This intricate and advanced version of the classic kalimba brought previously unheard musical possibilities and sounds.
Other notable figures include Yohei Kisanuki from Japan and Italy’s own Nick Strippoli from Rome. Remaining in Italy, we should mention the globally renowned and best-selling Italian kalimba lines, such as those by Giuseppe Verrico and Danilo Raimondo. The former is known for the Verrico Cajon Kalimba, and the latter for the Danilo Raimondo Kalimba.
The aforementioned chromatic kalimba, designed by Mark Holdaway and Sharon Eaton, is manufactured by Hugh Tracey. Most kalimbas favor artisanal craftsmanship, but even mass-produced models are of very high quality. The only kalimba entirely handmade, with no industrial or mass production, is the chromatic kalimba. This makes the Holdaway version a true niche product, which paradoxically is also the most widely used version.
The best kalimbas are employed in rock, folk, jazz, soul, and new age music, especially after their boom in the 1970s. However, it is within the harmonies of traditional African music and folklore that the kalimba has its historical repertoire, evolving alongside the instrument itself. This musical instrument has roots tracing back 3,000 years to the African continent. In its most primitive form, it could be considered the world’s oldest piano.
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Features and Functionality
The Kalimba, also known as Malimba or colloquially as the thumb piano, is a percussion instrument.
Its structure comprises a resonating box with several tines affixed to its front, aligned with a hole. These flexible tines, responsive to finger plucking, can be made of wood or metal.
In practice, wooden tines are neither recommended nor commonly used, as it is the metal vibration that generates the sound and pitch. Historically, as with the kalimbas made by African-American slaves, the bodies were constructed from recycled materials like wooden boxes, hollow gourds, or patched-up containers. However, the tines were predominantly metal, often crafted from knife blades or fork prongs. Even amid material scarcity, metal tines were preferred.
The tines are mounted on the front of the box, above a main hole, while the resonating box also features two smaller holes on its back. The number of tines ranges from 5 to 24, and in more complex kalimbas, even up to 40. Each tine, when plucked with the fingertips, produces a sound based on vibration. The tines function like piano keys but must be plucked like guitar strings.
As mentioned, the kalimba has evolved over time, first in Africa and later in the Western world, specifically the United States. Early versions lacked a resonating box, with coarser and heavier tines mounted on a simple wooden plank. Sound was produced by the tines’ robust vibrations alone, with no resonance. Today, many kalimbas are equipped for sound distortion, amplification, and digital recording. This demonstrates just how far the instrument has come, from its origins in traditional music to cutting-edge techniques in music composition and production.
Since the 1970s, the kalimba has often been a driving force in creating entire genres built around its distinctive sound.
How the Kalimba Sounds and How to Play It
Traditional African music is characterized by rhythmic, cheerful, yet gentle tones, often with a melancholy and nostalgic touch. The kalimba, given its wide sonic range, fits perfectly into these melodies. Thanks to its modern iterations, it is also suited for more intense, complex, and even unprecedented sounds. Its tone can be carousel-like and sweet or deep and resonant.
It can be played as accompaniment, in solo virtuosity, or as a prominent element to soften a composition’s harmonies.
The kalimba is held with both hands while leaving the back holes unobstructed. The tines are plucked with the fingertips or, even better, with fingernails. One potentially awkward aspect for beginners is the instrument’s grip during performance. Initially, it can be placed on a flat surface without covering the holes. The good news is that the kalimba is relatively easy to learn. Easy doesn’t mean simple, as the instrument’s complexity depends entirely on the player’s aspirations and how much they wish to explore its full potential. However, mastering the basics is fairly straightforward.
The internet is filled with tutorials, video courses, and lessons for beginners and advanced players alike. It’s easy to find enthusiasts willing to share their expertise, often for free.
There are also guides on how to build a kalimba, covering everything from its structural design to tuning notes based on the number of tines and intended use. It often serves as a gateway to the world of music, being easier to approach than other instruments—yet no less intricate or meaningful.
Indeed, while there may be kalimba players who don’t play the piano or guitar, it’s rare to find pianists or guitarists who cannot easily pick up the kalimba, even if they’ve never played it before.
The Kalimba: Instrument of God and a Testament to Black Resilience
The kalimba stands as a vivid and powerful testament to African resilience and the darkest chapters of history endured by people of African descent. In those times, music provided solace, and the kalimba, upon reflection, is not only a marvelous instrument with intense and evocative notes but also a testimony to life and love for music—an unconditional love.
In ancient African legends, from times lost to history, it is said that the kalimba was the instrument that created all things on Earth. It was God’s instrument, harmonizing creation, nature, and animals simply by playing it. One weakened tine caused the instrument to lose its tuning, producing a dissonant note. That note was humanity. Thus, humankind thrived, spreading the seed of disharmony, conflict, and sorrow—things that did not exist before.
The kalimba became an instrument of escape and inner harmony for African-American slaves, victims of the bitter and venomous expression of that dissonant note on God’s kalimba.