rekvisita, musikinstrument, parallellsamling, Ukaya, Upatsu

"The Upatsu, also known as Ukaya this is the most dependable instrument for keeping time in Sengenya, Tsikitsi and Gonda Ra Koko genres among others originating from Kwale county in the south coastal region.

This is a round dish, the size and shape of a dinner plate, which is made of a thin layer of metal sheet. This insrument produces a very high pitch sound that can be heard from as far as a mile away. Before the use of the Upatsu in the Tsikisti genre, the practitioners used Daba/Debe (a recycled tin Jerrycan or cooking oil container) to keep time. This was abandoned because of its limited availability with the increased production of a plastic variety, as well as the higher pitch of the Upatsu." - excerpt of a text written by Daniel Muhuni.