2022-27-12 (Xylophone)

Portable/wearable African xylophone consisting of 2 main parts, the base (2022-27-12A), and the detached keys (2022-27-12B). The frame of 2022-27-12A is a large, oval ring made from a curved stick, a "shelf" of wood is attached to the frame near the center by leather strips which loop through holes in the wood and tie around the stick. 7 cow horns of various sizes are attached to the wooden "shelf" through a combination of a black substance (possibly natural rubber), a stick running across the tops of the horns, leather strips woven around each horn and the stick running over them, and some metal wire; the horns themselves are each hollow and have more of the black substance wrapped around their tips, each horn also has a unique pattern of colored plastic thread wrapped around them, near the tips, plastic thread colors include clear, red/pink, green, and blue. A strip of white cloth has been tied around the area where the wooden "shelf" meets the frame on both sides, this is most likely meant to be used to wear the instrument. There are some items attached to the frame in various locations; a piece of animal hide is wrapped around the top; strips of orange leather thread are wrapped around the frame at 4 different locations, 1 on either side above the "shelf" and 1 on either side below the "shelf"; and a metal ring with a pointed metal hook attached to it which can be moved around the frame below the "shelf". The keyboard (2022-27-12B) consists of 7 wooden keys held together by two strips of orange leather cord which run parallel to one another and wrap around either end of each piece. All 7 pieces are about the same length, but differ in width and thickness; the top of each piece is smooth while the bottoms are left rougher and cut thinner in the middle. The width and thickness of each piece determines the note it plays and the middle of each piece is strategically carved to tune each piece to a specific scale.

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Institution