MATABELE, ZIMBABWE
WOOD, LEATHER
This was my first African carving I purchased. In December 1970 a friend and I were travelling in Matabele Land (then part of what was called Rhodesia), when we came across a group of children trying to sell curio items for the tourists including little drums. I asked them if they didn’t have a real drum being played regularly at home. The leader of the group said he would get one if I please wait for fifteen minutes. I got all excited, waiting for my first piece of genuine African history. This is the drum they brought back. I probably expected something older and more worn, but then I saw it was all carved from one solid tree and the sound was great, so I happily paid the money and enjoyed their smiling faces. The drum still looks not a day older, but it has been in my possession for 50 years now and still sounds great.