THE BUZZ IN BANTU SONIC COSMOLOGY

A deep dive into the hypnotic, fuzzy distortions of Bantu sonic cosmology, including Luba drums (mukupele) & xylophones (madimba) and Bazombo electrified likembé (thumb piano) music.

The Luba and other ethnic groups in the region play drums and xylophones made of tuned wooden bars supported on a frame, with calabash gourds attached underneath as resonators. The mirlitons (buzzing membranes) inside the gourds add a characteristic nasal buzz to the sound. The mirliton is created by drilling a small hole in the side of each calabash and inserting a short hollow tube or rod. Inside this tube, a thin, translucent film, harvested from the egg sac (or "nest") of the ntanda nkumbidi spider, is affixed. This spider silk membrane vibrates when the bars are struck, producing the buzzing effect. The electrified likembé is a modern variation of the same aesthetic. Buzzing timbres are used to enhance and accentuate the rhythms, create "ghost melodies" and disguise or distort sounds to embody otherworldly presences during rituals, masquerades, or funerals.