amakembe

How to say it

Meaning

musical instruments made from a hollowed-out box with metal or bamboo strips fixed on top, plucked with the thumbs.

Good to know

plural of ikembe (ama- class); the singular is in the i- class.

Examples

• Amakembe araririmba amazina meza mu mugoroba.Thumb pianos play beautiful tunes in the evening.
• Ese wigeze kwumva amakembe akinwa n'abakurambere?Have you ever heard thumb pianos played by elders?
• Abasore bamwe ntibazi gukoresha amakembe neza.Some young men do not know how to play the thumb pianos well.
• Umukurambere azookwigisha abana amakembe ku mugoroba.The elder will teach the children the thumb pianos in the evening.