Mossi Wood Whistle or Flute

Small, smooth carved piece with a bulbous head and a braided cord.

This carved wood whistle or flute from the Mossi is Mossi, from Burkina Faso, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. Simple wooden whistles and flutes are found across West Africa, where music and sound signals have long been part of community gatherings and daily life. Dark brown handle-like form, narrowing to a slender shaft and ending in a rounded, notched head with a small round hole. A twisted pale cord loops from the opposite end. The surface is glossy from long rubbing. It is 1.75 inches wide, 1 deep and 6 high.

Neat, tidy and tied up in a very short story.