West African "thumb piano" (guidiga)

Although this offering was made in Senegal, it is of a type found in Burkina Faso and northern Ghana. Its seven keys are attached to a pyrographed soundboard, which in turn is mounted on a calabash resonator. In addition to having a sweet tone when played, this instrument can be hung on a wall as a striking piece of functional art when not in use.

For sound samples, see our YouTube videos: ; and