Cart

Your cart is currently empty.

African Instruments & Music

Crafted from natural materials using age-old methods, African instruments with their fundamental sound transform us from spectators into players. 

Color

Size

$18.00

Artisans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, craft these great musical instruments from recycled Nescafe coffee cans, printed in French. A great gift for music lovers or collectors of recycled crafts, each kalimba features a unique burned pattern on top.

Dimensions: 4"L x 2.5"W x 2"T

Crafted from: wood, metal, recycled tin cans

Made in: Burkina Faso

About the Artisans:

The Village Artisanal de Ouagadougou (VAO) is a centre of excellence in the creation, production and marketing of Burkinabe art, fine crafts and handicrafts in Burkina Faso. Here you can feel the passion and see the creations of over 500 artisans representing 30 different genres of art.

$20.00

This African musical instrument produces a variety of sounds and is an wonderful example of recycled art with function.

The base of the kalimba is a Nescafe coffee can. Metal tins fitted with tin can buzzers are plucked to create an unmistakable African sound. The top of kalimba is decorated with wood burnings, and the kalimba is held with both hands when playing.

Dimensions: 4"L x 4"W x 2"H

Crafted from: wood, metal, recycled tin cans

Made in: Burkina Faso

About the Artisans:

The Village Artisanal de Ouagadougou (VAO) is a centre of excellence in the creation, production and marketing of Burkinabe art, fine crafts and handicrafts in Burkina Faso. Here you can feel the passion and see the creations of over 500 artisans representing 30 different genres of art.

$52.00

Handmade in Senegal, these traditional drums are carved from a single piece of hollowed wood. Goatskin is stretched taut across the top and held in place by braided nylon and cotton cord. Each drum includes a handle of braided cord.

Each rustic drum is decorated with colorful ribbon and most have painted designs, which will vary. See photos for examples.

Size: 7"D x 11"T.

Sold individually.

About the Artisans:

We purchase these instruments from a small co-op of Senegalese artisans in Guediawaye Artisan Village, located in Dakar.

$160.00

Handmade in Senegal, these traditional drums are carved from a single piece of hollowed wood. Goatskin is stretched taut across the top and held in place by braided nylon and cotton cord. Each drum includes a handle of braided cord.

Each rustic drum is decorated with colorful ribbon and most have painted designs, which will vary. See photos for examples.

Size: 10"D x 20"T.

Sold individually.

About the Artisans:

We purchase these instruments from a small co-op of Senegalese artisans in Guediawaye Artisan Village, located in Dakar.


$12.00

Kenyan artisans handcraft this fun spin drum from leather and wood, then add a colorful hand painted design with dancing musical notes and staffs on each side.

Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions:  10"L x 3.5"W x 0.75"H

Crafted from:  Leather, wood, string, acrylic paint

Made in: Kenya

About the Artisans:

We work with Kenyan artisans who have life-long training in the making of traditional African instruments such as hand drums and spin drums. The artisans craft each instrument from sustainably sourced wood and scraps of goat skin. After each instrument is constructed, Nairobi artists hand-paint the instruments, making each one-of-a-kind.

$15.00

Kenyan artisans handcraft this fun spin drum from leather and wood, then add a colorful image of a peacock on one side, and peacock feathers on the reverse side. Spinning the drum creates an interesting visual.

Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions:  11"L x 3.5"W x 0.75"H

Crafted from:  Leather, wood, string, acrylic paint

Made in: Kenya

About the Artisans:

We work with Kenyan artisans who have life-long training in the making of traditional African instruments such as hand drums and spin drums. The artisans craft each instrument from sustainably sourced wood and scraps of goat skin. After each instrument is constructed, Nairobi artists hand-paint the instruments, making each one-of-a-kind.

$15.00

Kenyan artisans handcraft this fun spin drum from leather and wood, then add a colorful image of a peacock on one side, and peacock feathers on the reverse side. Spinning the drum creates an interesting visual.

Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions:  12"L x 3.5"W x 1"H

Crafted from:  Leather, wood, string, acrylic paint

Made in: Kenya

About the Artisans:

We work with Kenyan artisans who have life-long training in the making of traditional African instruments such as hand drums and spin drums. The artisans craft each instrument from sustainably sourced wood and scraps of goat skin. After each instrument is constructed, Nairobi artists hand-paint the instruments, making each one-of-a-kind.

$12.00

Kenyan artisans handcraft this fun spin drum from leather and wood, then add vibrant hand painted designs of a sweet zebra on one side, and colorful zebra print on the reverse. Spinning the drum creates an interesting visual.

Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions:  11"L x 3.5"W x 0.75"H

Crafted from:  Leather, wood, string, acrylic paint

Made in: Kenya

About the Artisans:

We work with Kenyan artisans who have life-long training in the making of traditional African instruments such as hand drums and spin drums. The artisans craft each instrument from sustainably sourced wood and scraps of goat skin. After each instrument is constructed, Nairobi artists hand-paint the instruments, making each one-of-a-kind.

$15.00

Kenyan artisans handcraft this fun spin drum from leather and wood, then add vibrant hand painted designs of a sweet zebra on one side, and colorful zebra print on the reverse. Spinning the drum creates an interesting visual.

Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions:  12"L x 3.5"W x 1"H

Crafted from:  Leather, wood, string, acrylic paint

Made in: Kenya

About the Artisans:

We work with Kenyan artisans who have life-long training in the making of traditional African instruments such as hand drums and spin drums. The artisans craft each instrument from sustainably sourced wood and scraps of goat skin. After each instrument is constructed, Nairobi artists hand-paint the instruments, making each one-of-a-kind.

$15.00

Kenyan artisans handcraft this fun spin drum from leather and wood, then add different hand painted designs to each side to represent day and night. Spinning the drum creates an interesting visual.

Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions:  12"L x 3.5"W x 1"H

Crafted from:  Leather, wood, string, acrylic paint

Made in: Kenya

About the Artisans:

We work with Kenyan artisans who have life-long training in the making of traditional African instruments such as hand drums and spin drums. The artisans craft each instrument from sustainably sourced wood and scraps of goat skin. After each instrument is constructed, Nairobi artists hand-paint the instruments, making each one-of-a-kind.

$24.00

Artisans in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso, handcraft these unique tambourines by encasing recycled metal bottle cap zills in a lightweight balsa wood frame. A great gift for music lovers or collectors of world instruments, each tambourine sports a burned design, and is completely one-of-a-kind.

Sold singly in assorted designs. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly. This is not a professional instrument.

Dimensions: 6.25"L x 5"W x 1.5"H

Crafted from: balsa wood, metal

Made in: Burkina Faso

About the Artisans:

An artisan co-op of young men in Burkina Faso, West Africa, create hand-crafted instruments from gourds and recycled materials including coffee tins. Frequently the artisans are also musicians themselves, and they take great care in producing instruments of exceptional quality and beauty.

$10.00

These natural undyed elephant grass percussion instruments are filled with beans and produce a unique, earthy rattle. Artisans in the Bolgatanga region of Ghana handcraft these African percussion instruments from stiff elephant grass. A calabash gourd base keeps the rattling beans intact.

Dimensions:  3.5"D x 7.5"H

Crafted from: Elephant grass, calabash gourd

Made in: Ghana

$64.00

This mbira (pronounced UM-beer-ra), consisting of a hand-carved wooden base with attached staggered recycled metal tines and with a resonator to add a little buzz, is played by holding the instrument in the hands and plucking the tines with the thumbs. A particularly common musical instrument of the Shona people of Zimbabwe, it is also often an important instrument to be played at religious ceremonies, weddings, and other social gatherings.

A beautiful gift for world music enthusiasts!

15 Note Mbira measures 5"L x 1"W x 8"T.

23 Note Mbira measures 8"L x 1"W x 9.5"T.

Due to the handmade nature of this item, slight variation is expected.

About the Artisans:

Artisans handcraft quality musical instruments that traditionally figure strongly in Shona ceremonies, using recycled wood and metal.

$18.00

Kalimbas, mbiras, karimbas, finger pianos...all are names for the same African percussion instrument from the Lamellophone instrument family.

These fair trade, Kenyan toy karimbas produce their resonant sound through the use of hollowed wood. Recycled metal tines with recycled-can buzzers are plucked to create vibrations. The box is decorated with wood burnings and is held with both hands when playing.


Available in three sizes.

Dimensions:
Small: 4.5"L x 3"W x 1.5"H
Medium: 7"L x 4"W x 2"H
Large: 8"L x 5.5"W x 2"H

Crafted from: Wood, scrap metal

Made in: Kenya

About the Artisans:

Founded by Andy Koney nearly 20 years ago in his bedroom, today the Ghanian artistic collective known as Yenok employs 40 men and women who are dedicated to creating beautiful furniture and woodworking art, often with a spiritual flair. Yenok's products are recognized for their high quality and custom craftsmanship.

$24.00

"It is music and dancing that makes me at peace with the world."

Stash cosmetics, art supplies, or other small items in this sweet pouch from South Africa! Beautifully screen printed, fully lined, backed with a coordinating pattern fabric, and finished with a contrasting zipper; showcases the Nelson Mandela quotation, "It is music and dancing that makes me at peace with the world."

Dimensions: 12.5"L x 1.25"W x 5.5"H

Crafted from: Cloth, zipper

Made in: South Africa

About the Artisans:

At Yda Walt Studios in Johannesburg, South Africa, talented owner/designer Yda Walt and a small team of artisans dream up inspirational products centered on South African life and ethos.

Translation missing: en.general.search.loading