Madimba

Madimba African xylophone with a variable number of hardwood slabs, usually made of pterocarpus, and gourd resonators pierced laterally with a small hole that is covered with a thin animal membrane—a mirliton device. The slabs are fixed to a framework and isolated by means of fiber padding. The name madimba is used by the Baluba of Kamina, Dibaya, and Mwanza, the Bakuba of Lusambo, the Bayeke of Nguba, the Bena-Kanioka of Mutombo-Mukulu, and the Bena-Lulua of Luluabourg. Cf. dimba, jimba…