Kisanji

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo among the Ngala the lamellaphone is known by the name Kisanji or sanza and is played by holding the instrument in both hands and plucking the keys with the thumbs. The pitch of each metal key is determined by the length of the key. Most often the placement of the keys is symmetrical, with the lowest keys in the middle and the higher keys on each end of the instrument. The most common tuning is the pentatonic scale without semitones, for example DO - RE - MI - SOL - LA, which varies by region. The music played on the sanza is polyrhythmic with overlapping rhythms. The instrument is often used to accompany the voice, to great effect. The keys are attached to a sounding board by metal strips or wires and placed over a gourd or clay resonator of varying sizes. The number of keys varies by region, as well. Within each region the instrument can take on a variety of shapes. The sanza in the accompanying photo has a resonator made from a turtle shell that has been attached to the sounding board with natural fibers.

References

*Osborne, Eddie [http://jomovibes.com/mbira/index.html Thumb piano nomenclature]
* [http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.africainmusica.org/instruments/italiano/idiofoni/SanzaNgala.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dkisanji%2Binstrument%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26pwst%3D1&usg=ALkJrhi0I7tCMzlTZg7rhyivlOBgL7ap2w translated from the Italian version of the Virtual Museum of Ethnic Musical Instruments]
* [http://www.superstarbrassband.org/local_musical_instruments.pdf Musical Instrument Literature Zone]

Links

* [http://www.samba-ngo.com/about_samba.html Samba Ngo] hailing from The Democratic Republic of the Congo Samba Ngo learned to play the Kisanji as a child in the small village of Dibula in The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
* [http://www.usd.edu/smm/Africa/1242/Sansa1242.html Sansa] located at University of South Dakota, originating in Loango Democratic Republic of the Congo.
* [http://www.usd.edu/smm/Africa/1243/Sansa1243.html Tyitanzi] located at University of South Dakota, originating in Angola.