AFRICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Seed Pod Shakers (Pair) Start Price USD 12.50 Current Price USD 12.50 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, December 03, 2008 End Time Wednesday, December 10, 2008 Location Westminster See more about 'AFRICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Seed Pod Shakers (Pair)' Description THANK YOU FOR L@@KING!! NO RESERVE SOLE PURPOSE OF THE SALE IS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE SUB-SAHARAN (AFRICAN) AIDS PANDEMIC “Of all the major challenges facing the world, none is more lethal nor more globally pervasive than the blight and trauma of HIV and Aids," Nelson Mandela, The Times, 2005. You are kindly donating funds for the sub-Saharan AIDS pandemic; for your generous donation, you receive one (1) pair of handcrafted: Indigenous African Musical Instrument THREE SEED POD SHAKER Hosho Shona Tribe, Zimbabwe Nominal Data length x seed pod Ø (variance) inches 8 x 1 (+½) millimeters 205 x 25 (+12) Add and play an indigenous musical instrument to one's musical repertoire!!  The shaker a superb example of indigenous African talent is about 8” long and the three dried fruit seed pods vary between 1 to 1½” in diameter sells for more than $30 in the USA.  The shakers made from dried indigenous fruit pods known as monkey balls with added gravel for enhanced sound.  Patterns are hand painted on seedpod for decorative purposes with the handle left au natural.  Shakers occur virtually throughout sub-Saharan Africa.  Varieties of indigenous names exist; played as part of an ensemble of indigenous instruments like the xylophone style marimba.  This traditional musical instrument, one of the oldest known to man, played by shaking is from Zimbabwe*.  Makes a great gift for the aspiring musician for any occasion or as unique home or office décor! Impress your family and friends whilst supporting the world’s worst humanitarian disaster.  When not in use it makes a delightful wall decoration (ornament) that fits the décor of most homes and offices.  The dried fruit (muTamba) have burned geometric patterns to enhance the uniqueness of the instrument as an ornament/decoration. The shakers made from the fruit of Strychnos spinosa, a thorny shrub or small tree over six feet (1-9 m) in height, with spherical woody-shelled fruit, 2 to 3½” Ø.  A deep yellow to yellow-brown when mature, the fruit contains many flat seeds that are poisonous as the name suggests ‘strychnos’, meaning ‘deadly’, an ancient Greek name that given to a certain poisonous member of the Solanaceae family.  The specific name ‘spinosa’ is Latin for spiny (or thorns). Although best known for their stone sculpture, the Shona Tribe of Zimbabwe has a rich artistic heritage that includes music and musical instruments.  The traditional musical repertoire of the Shona is largely based on a unique system of harmonic progressions; melodic themes and variations layered in polyrhythmic, cyclic patterns.  One of the most fascinating music traditions of Bantu-speaking Africa, an evolution reaching far back into precolonial times and, therefore, transcending the ethnohistorical horizon of written sources.  These musical instruments occur virtually throughout sub-Saharan Africa.  Varieties of indigenous names exist and they are played as part of an ensemble of indigenous instruments like the xylophone style marimba. Made from natural vegetation and hand-decorated at Fair Trade prices for Kwaze-Kwasa [USA] Inc.  The pair you receive will be similar to but not identical to the generic listing pictures with variations in size, shape, carving patterns, and color to be expected.  Should you wish to choose a specific pair send a message and add $3.50 at checkout or before invoice payment, to line sellers other discounts (-) and charges(+) and we will send you pictures from which you may select your pair. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?    Any queries send an email or eBay message    ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? SOLE PURPOSE OF THE SALE IS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE SUB-SAHARAN (AFRICAN) AIDS PANDEMIC   READ FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FOUNDATION AND GIVING WORKS THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT THE IMPOVERISHED AND THE CHILDREN (OUR FUTURE) Buyer and Seller Benefits One of our aims is to show the world a positive view of Africa that is often thought of as a place of disaster and suffering.  Behind the tragic and often sad headlines, people go about their lives, including African artists and artisans who continue to produce world-class arts and crafts despite the poverty of many communities.  The design and production is the inspiration of talented, albeit economically challenged people, looking for ways to have an income with integrity and dignity.  The crafts keep them occupied and focused for the future.  The artist's talent provides income for them, their extended family, and community that include many AIDS orphans and patients. By purchasing this item, you are helping the economically disadvantaged and impoverished people of sub-Saharan Africa to help themselves.  Your purchase has a double benefit: the maker’s income trickles through their AIDS impacted community with a six to ten times multiplier effect (as high as 20 in Zimbabwe if income exchanged on black market) and 100% of profits supports AIDS orphans and patients.  US taxpayers benefit in that a portion of the purchase may be tax deductible (consult a tax specialist). SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN AIDS INFORMATION Sub-Saharan Africa is blighted with the AIDS-pandemic, with highest rates of HIV and AIDS in the world in southern Africa.  Kwaze-Kwasa [USA] Inc registered 501(c)3 projects are in southern and eastern Africa.  Our plans are to move in to other sub-Saharan African countries as funds permit, where the need for assistance is very great.  Orphaned and vulnerable children are one of the long-term legacies of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.  Many of them will grow up on the street, or form child-headed households, or brought up by elderly grandparents, or be placed in institutional care.  Kwaze-Kwasa [USA] supports these children by supporting community-based solutions that strengthen both families and communities in a variety of ways.  Such support can be anything from providing food and emotional support to running preschool and after-school supervision programs or training care workers.  In all our projects, we work with credible local partner organizations. Zimbabwe *Unemployment in Zimbabwe exceeds 75% (some areas >95%).  Inflation, the world’s highest, officially exceeds 100,000% (unofficial >150,000%).  Life expectancy for women and men @ 34 and 32 years, respectively.  The Mugabe government’s administration has resulted in difficult conditions for many reasons that one can read about and draw one's own conclusions.  The indisputable facts are that many innocent children are suffering.  The government has insufficient resources to provide even the most basic amenities for its citizens. SOLE PURPOSE OF THE SALE IS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE SUB-SAHARAN (AFRICAN) AIDS PANDEMIC Place a Bid!