The strongest evidence of the African origin of this marimba type rests on three
factual elements: first, the name marimba is itself a word of Bantu origin; second, the
rattan or thin strip of wood that goes around one side of the instrument is commonly
used throughout Africa; and third, the use of the vibrating membrane attached to the
wall of the resonator under each key is also widespread in Africa. Although it is
possible that any one of these elements might have occurred simultaneously in
Africa and the New World, the existence of all three of these elements in the New
World and in Africa presents too strong an argument for a historic connection
to be swept aside as coincidence. Chenoweth touches on each of these points,
along with other facts concerning the connections between the African xylophone
and Guatemalan marimba.
Before discussing in greater detail the three points of comparison, which I
regard as providing the most conclusive evidence relative to the relationship of
the Central American/Mexican marimba and the African xylophone with
calabash resonators, I should like to give my reasons for not pursuing some of
the other facts Chenoweth gives. At various points she mentions similarities
and differences in the scale and tuning systems of these American and African
xylophones. Although precise pitch measurement techniques are available, it is
difficult to use similarity in pitch intervals as an element of continuity between
these cultures for two reasons. First, pitch references are given in rough
Western-tempered approximations and therefore cannot serve as tangible scientific
evidence. The Chopi timbila tunings, for example, in fact bear very little
resemblance to the Western-tempered system. Second, it is my opinion that the
necessity of adapting to the current or local vocal melodic type primarily motivates
changes in instrumental tunings, and, again in my opinion, that tunings
exhibit rapid change over time and across geographic distances and therefore
make only a weak argument for the substantiation of cultural ties. Here, of
course, I am speaking only of the tunings themselves and not any theory of
tuning that might be transmitted. However, there is no evidence of such theoretical
musical connections between African xylophone music and Central
America.