Credited to Lesotho. The instrument type is used more widely in southern Africa (the name is given as Tswana in Wikipedia), so Lesotho's tie is national identification, not sole origin.
How it began
The lesiba belongs to a family of mouth-blown bows of southern Africa. The same kind of instrument is known among the Khoikhoi as the goura or gora, and European travelers described its sound in the Cape in the early 1800s. The name lesiba means feather. Among the Basotho it became a herdsman's instrument and is now regarded as the national instrument. When and how it passed between peoples is not documented in the sources consulted.
How it works
A flattened quill is attached to one end of a long string of sinew, which is stretched along a hard wooden stick. The player cups both hands around the quill, holds it just inside the lips without touching them, and breathes sharply in or out across it. The quill flutters and sets the string vibrating, while the mouth and throat act as the resonator.
Breathing in brings out the harmonics of the string. Breathing out is often joined by a throaty grunt or humming, so that one player seems to produce more than one part. The result is a strong buzzing tone on a small scale of notes. Because breath drives a string, the lesiba is classed as both a string and a wind instrument.
How it spread
The lesiba is played mostly by herdsmen and herd boys in the Lesotho highlands. They use it to signal and direct cattle, and nearly as often to pass the time. Herders report that cattle recognize an individual player's style and gather around him when he plays.
Where it stands today
Few people now play the lesiba, but its harsh, bird-like sound is familiar across Lesotho, where the national radio uses it to mark the start of the news. The player Thabong Phosa recorded with the South African musician Sipho Mabuse, and field recordings are held in sound archives.
