Eleke
Eleke with deep triangular soundbox.
Lamellaphone is a term to designate instruments consisting of thin tongues of metal or split cane mounted on a resonating board or box, such as this triangular lamellaphone, known as an Eleke, made by the Mpongwe people of Gabon. Depressing the free ends of the tongues with the thumbs produces a gentle ringing sound. Lamellaphones are distributed across sub-Sahara Africa and were brought by slaves to Latin America.
Lamellaphone is a term to designate instruments consisting of thin tongues of metal or split cane mounted on a resonating board or box, such as this triangular lamellaphone, known as an Eleke, made by the Mpongwe people of Gabon. Depressing the free ends of the tongues with the thumbs produces a gentle ringing sound. Lamellaphones are distributed across sub-Sahara Africa and were brought by slaves to Latin America.
Artwork Details
- Title: Eleke
- Date: 19th century
- Geography: Gabon
- Culture: Gabonese (Mpongwe)
- Medium: Wood
- Dimensions: W. 7.3 x D. 15.2 x L. 33cm (2 7/8 x 6 x 13in.)
- Classification: Idiophone-Plucked / Depressed
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.3529
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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