The shell zither is a rare instrument that has only been found in the East African region. A bowl, the opening of which is spanned lengthwise by the strings, serves as a string carrier. In this case, an elongated, narrow bowl with a flat bottom and minimally pronounced steep side walls forms the string carrier. This type of instrument often has additional resonating bodies in the form of calabashes or other vessels. Six diagonally burnt perforations are used to attach and guide the strings, two of which run laterally from the edge of the bowl. The instrument ends longitudinally with a handle extension, which is crowned by a head with minimalist facial features typical of Nyamwezi art. / L.-C.K.