TS_Art of Africa_4C.qxp 11/23/2011 4:01 PM Page 224
Kissar lyre, late 19thcentury.
Nubia, Sudan.
Wood, leather, entrails, glass, cowries, 101 x 95 x 20 cm.
The Trustees of the British Museum, London.The skin of this soundtable, which has a wooden hemispherical body, still has its animal hair. Suspended on the upper
bar, glass beads, cowries, amulets, and rosaries elaborately decorate the wooden arms and double crossbar.
Specifically among the hung charms are several bound Koranic amulets, the trigger mechanism from a gun, two
brass bells, a round keyhole shield plate, and decorative mounts from a dagger. When the instrument is moved, the
hundreds of pierced coins and cowrie shells on beaded strings ring and rattle from the upper and lower crossbars.
A majority of the coins are from Sudan, dated 1899 with Arabic inscriptions.
Used in Sudanese zarceremonies, it is believed that this instrument can rid the body or mind of a person posessed
by an evil spirit which is causing illness or pain. It is thought that the sound of the instrument can call the evil spirit
from the affected person during these curative rituals. Occasionally the participants of this extensive ceremony of
singing and praying, which is accompanied by drums, find themselves in a trance. It is probable that the various glass
beaded and cowrie shell necklaces hung from the cross bar were added to the instrument as an item of personal
adornment after the healing ritual.