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1930.86.58

Notched end-blown flute carved from horn, with 3 finger-holes down the side and a suspension hole through the tip [RTS 7/12/2004].

On display

1930.86.58

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Notched end-blown flute carved from horn, with 3 finger-holes down the side and a suspension hole through the tip [RTS 7/12/2004].
Long description
Small notched end-blown flute carved from a slightly translucent to opaque brown piece of animal horn (Pantone 463C to black 7C), and then hollowed out. The embouchure has been cut to form concave front and back edges, rising to points at either side; just inside the lip at these points there are traces of a dark brown resinous substance that has been added to narrow the embouchure and guide the breath. The embouchure itself is a distorted lentoid shape in plan view. Below this, the body follows the natural curvature of the horn, which has very slight surface ribbing around its upper part but has become smooth by the base, where it tapers to a sharp point that is round in section. 3 finger-holes have been cut into the side, on the slightly concave face, and show signs of wear. The lower one has been bored at an angle, and there are some signs that the holes may have been adjusted during manufacture to achieve the correct sound. Just above the tip, another hole has been bored to pass right through the object, which is solid at this point; this was presumably intended for some kind of carrying or suspension loop. The object is complete and intact, although some of the resin fill may have been lost on one side. It has a weight of 20.9 grams, and is 177 mm long. The embouchure measures 29.8 by 25.5 mm across its outside edges, and has an internal diameter of 27 by 21 mm, while the finger-holes have a diameter of 5 mm and the suspension hole has a diameter of 4 mm [RTS 7/12/2004].
Geographical reference
South Sudan
Africa > Eastern Africa > South Sudan
Western Equatoria Maridi District
Cultural groups
Baka
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1930
Date collected
1926-1930
Acquisition information
Purchased: 31/12/1930
Materials and processes
Material Animal Horn, Material Resin Plant, Process Carved, Process Hollowed, Process Perforated
Dimensions
Length 177 mm, Diameter: max 30 mm, Weight 20.9 g
Object numbers
Accession number: 1930.86.58
Research and responses

The 'Meridi' district is presumably the area around the town of Maridi, which lies in Western Equatoria [RTS 12/11/2003].

The term 'flute' is preferred to 'whistle' for this type of object. It can be described as a 'stopped' flute, as the body is not open ended at its base (compare this to examples such as 1934.8.87, which has a finger-hole at its distal end [HLR 14/1/2005; RTS 26/1/2005]

In May 2015 a digital photograph of this object was supplied to Ellen Lekka (Culture Specialist / UNESCO Juba – South Sudan) for use in 'South Sudan Travelling Exhibition: Pilot Phase', a project being carried out by UNESCO Juba in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of South Sudan, as part of the establishment of a public culture sector through the development of key institutions and as a step towards the creation of a National Museum. [JC 22 5 2014]

Search terms: Music, Musical Instrument, Flute