1938.34.578.1-8

Collection type

Object

Description

8 harp strings wound round palm-leaf parcel

Geographical reference

Uganda

Africa > Eastern Africa > Uganda

Kampala

Cultural groups

Ganda

Person

Field collector Henry Balfour

PRM source Henry Balfour

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1896

Date collected

20 January 1896

Acquisition information

Bequeathed: 1939

Materials and processes

Material Animal Gut, Material Palm Leaf Plant, Process Twisted, Process Wound

Dimensions

Width: max 80 mm, Length: max 190 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1938.34.578.1-8

Research and responses

This object was examined by Peter Cooke during a research visit in April 2012. He made the following comments: A wonderful example of the string-making craft of the Baganda and quite unique. Traditionally such strings are spun up from the sinews removed from the shoulder of a cow or ox. I have never seen such fine strings as these and no-one has the skill to make these anymore. The way they are presented suggests that they could have formed a gift to, or have been an item in the royal regalia of the king of Buganda. Harpists who used such strings were rare and served only the king. King Mwanga resisted British colonising measures at various times during the 1890s and was finally deposed by the British in 1897 and exiled. Several artefacts connected with Mwanga have found their way to UK museums and I suspect they may have been looted from his palace.

A copy of the report sent by Peter Cooke after his research visit has been placed in the Researcher's file. [El.B 09/05/2012]

Search terms: Music, Musical Instrument, Harp, Musical Instrument Accessory