Here is my invention, the Kalimbawu.
It gets its name by borrowing the term “Ba wu” from the Chinese flute of that name, meaning “him” and “her”.
Whilst not a reed instrument, the metal tongues of the Kalimba do resemble the shape of the Bawu flute’s reed. Also as I will explain, the Kalimbawu features two voices, one male and one female.
If that’s not an excuse, the word just works!
The Kalimba, also referred to as a “thumb piano”, is a modern variant of the African Mbira, developed by Hugh Tracey and which features a Westernised tuning system.
