Rebaba bowl lyre

In countries where traditional medicine is practised, the powers of sound may be involved in healing the sick. Lyres with bowl-shaped soundboxes are used in East Africa, in the tambura ritual in Sudan and the zar ceremony in Eritrea that are held to cure people who are diagnosed as being possessed by spirits. The lyre is highly esteemed and is considered to give instructions for the ceremony through its strings, which are interpreted by its player. This instrument was collected around 1968 by Jean Jenkins, the first musical instrument curator of the Horniman Museum. Rebaba, bowl lyre. The six strings run between the cross-bar and a metal ring at the base. The mammal-skin sound table has two circular sound holes and is tensioned by leather straps around the wooden resonator. Wooden bridge, yoke and supporting arms. The yoke is elaborately decorated with beadwork, shells and mirrors.