Mbiras on Stamps

This post features African instruments known as mbiras on stamps. That is only one name for the instrument, it can also be known as an ikembe, kalimba, amrimbula, sansa, or thumb piano. All of those names refer to a small instrument with metal tines on a wooden board. Players hold the instruments in their hands and pluck the tines with their fingers. The instrument can also have a resonator and some contemporary players electrify the instrument. The instrument is originally from eastern and southern African where it exists in many forms. Today, it is in use all over the world.

According to instrument classification, such instruments are lamellophones, or plucked idiophones. This name comes from the small lamella (tines) that are the sound production element. The longest, and therefore lowest, pitches on mbiras are in the middle. The shorter, higher pitches, are on the edges. This makes it easier for the thumbs to reach all of the notes. It is thought that early versions of the instrument were first made around three thousand years ago.

Originally, the tines were of wood. Then, more than a thousand years ago metal tines began to appear. The tuning, size, name, and function of the mbira can be drastically different in different places. Some have gourd resonators, some have shells or beads that create a “buzz” when the instrument is played. There is a tremendous diversity in the forms of the instrument across Africa.

If you are unfamiliar with the instrument, make sure to check some recordings out:

The Stamps

Mbiras, or lamellophones, are rather common motifs on stamps of Africa. They most often appear as instruments in stamp sets from a particular country. The variety of forms of the instrument on stamps from Africa mirror the diversity of the instrument itself.

Here are examples from my collection:

Sometimes, the instrument has a gourd resonator. As you can see, even that is different, sometimes the instrument sits on top of a gourd, sometimes it rests inside a gourd.

Other examples have large wooden boxes that act as resonators, including both examples below.

I’d love to know if you have an mbira stamp in your collection that I don’t. Maybe you even own an mbira. Let me know in the comments below!