The Timbila

The Timbila, also known as the Wooden Xylophone, is the key instrument in the Midgodo dance dramas of the Chopi people in Southern Mozambique, Africa. The Chopi communities are famous for their orchestral music, which typically features between five and thirty Timbila instruments of varying sizes and sounds.

Kolbyg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
David Adam Kess, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Timbila dates back to 1560s Southern Africa. The Timbila are expertly crafted and tuned wooden instruments made from the highly resonant wood of the slow-growing mwenje (sneezewort) tree. Beneath each wooden slat, a resonator made from calabashes is securely attached, tightly sealed with beeswax, and treated with oil from the nkuso fruit. This process gives the Timbila its deep, nasal tone and distinctive vibrations.

 The orchestras are made up of Timbila players of all ages, from young children to grandfathers, with everyone playing together. Every year, new songs are created and performed at weddings and community celebrations. The performances usually last about an hour and feature both solo and group pieces, played at varying speeds. Along with the music, there are special Timbila dances performed by two to twelve dancers in front of the orchestra. 

Erinamukuta, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A key part of the performance is the m’zeno song, which is slow and soft. The dancers sing this song while the musicians play quietly in the background. The lyrics often contain humor and sarcasm, reflecting current social issues and important community events.

How do I play the instrument?

To play the Timbila, you strike the wooden slats with mallets. The pitch varies depending on the length of each slat, with shorter slats producing higher notes and longer slats producing lower ones.

Are there any instrument similar to this one?

The wooden xylophone is a similar instrument.

How long does it take to learn?

The Timbila is easy to play and played by Chopi people of all ages.

Is there special equipment needed for the instrument?

No, there is no special equipment required other than the mallets used to strike the slats.

Dominic A. Kyilleh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rock with a Star!

Let’s enjoy the sound of this instrument through this wonderful performance by  Venancio Mbande.

Venancio Mbande & his son Londolane play 3 songs.