July 15, 2020

Basically, it is a genius design some unknown African came up with about 800 years ago Learn More About Kalimba History   People ask me all the time: “Why do some kalimbas have some upward-bent tines?” The short answers: it is a design element in many traditional African kalimbas, permitting two interleaved rows of tines, one with shorter tines and the other with longer tines. This not only makes the instrument physically easier to play, but also suggests a host of harmonies and musical motifs that otherwise would be difficult to play.   By the way, I generally call the instruments with two rows of tines “karimba” instead of “kalimba”.