The marimba player here is Mbuyo, the radio repairman and one of the three best musicians in Ilakala. His concentration was so focused that he didn't realize I had been taking photographs. The instruments are just left out for anyone to use, and boys will practice a little bit between chores. I never saw a girl or woman touch a marimba, even though everyone insisted they can if they want. Unfortunately, one of the children escorting me around bumped me as I was taking this photograph, which blurred it a little.
Some families prefer drums instead of marimbas for family music-making.
Bwana Safi, at the center here, made these drums for his large family to play. The open structure behind the drummers is only used for meetings in the heat of the day.