Inventing Innovative Instruments

Victor Gama: I am a composer and musician who also invents new musical instruments. I started inventing instruments because I did not want to be limited to creating and playing just one type of music.

VG: Musical instruments are art objects because they are containers of meanings and stories. Many instruments reflect the way that the people who created them see the universe. When I invent a new instrument, I am designing it based on ideas that represent my thoughts, observations, and experiences. I am from the southern African country of Angola, and Angolan culture and nature are frequent sources of inspiration for me.

VG: The toha is two instruments in one. There are 44 strings—22 on each side. These strings can be tuned the same or differently. Also, the toha can be played by two musicians. This honors the sharing spirit of the sociable weaver birds. The toha is a fun instrument because of the interaction that can happen when two musicians play it at the same time.

VG: Every new instrument I create starts with an experience I have had. I brainstorm my ideas by sketching on paper. Once I narrow down the ideas, I design a 3-D model on my computer. My overall design is usually round and circular to represent how everything in the universe spins. Many of the different components of my instruments are designed to symbolize the experiences that inspired me.

VG: I create a prototype, and once I am satisfied with it, I use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create the parts and pieces of my instruments. Those pieces are made from digital files using tools such as 3-D printers and laser cutters. Sometimes I have to hire outside companies to make certain parts.

VG: The development process can take a long time, often years. This is because it takes time to refine the instruments and perfect their sound quality. I have been perfecting the toha for 25 years. I also have to learn how to play the instruments I invent—they don’t come with a tutorial!

VG: I am currently touring and performing concerts with my instruments. My exhibition, INSTRMNTS, is also touring and showcasing my instruments at museums and cultural centers around the world.