Hugh Tracey

Hugh Tracey was an important twentieth century ethnomusicologist. He and his wife collected and archived music from Southern and Central Africa. He began making field recordings of music in the early 20's, through the 70's. He developed an instrument called the Kalimba. According to his grandson Devon, the Englishman arrived in South Africa in the 1920's and immediately became fascinated with the local culture. He was particularly interested in the Mbira, an instrument found nowhere else in the world.