Liberian Harp

Although the shape of this rare musical instrument is reminiscent of a lyre, the fact that the strings are parallel to the cross bar rather than strung from it categorizes it as a harp. An essentially identical example is illustrated in Sir Harry Johnson’s “Liberia” 1906, plate 397. The Natural History Museum in New York houses two similar specimens collected in 1939 and 1957. They are identified, respectively, as Toma and (Dan) Gio. The illustrated harp is described as being from Liberia’s Northwest. Anecdotal evidence indicates that the instrument is extinct in the field. I have never seen any with traders. This one was acquired from an estate housing several very old West African instruments. It differs from the other Liberian harps mentioned in that the half-calabash sound box at the bottom is covered with hide from one of several possible species of spotted genet- a nocturnal, cat-like animal.

15″ tall and 16″ wide

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