Thumb pianos have existed in Africa for thousands of years, the keys were originally made of bamboo but over the years have changed to metal. In Africa they are know by many different names, including: Mbira, Mbila, Mbira Huru, Mbira Njari, Mbira Nyunga, Marimba, Karimba, Kalimba, Likembe, Okeme, and marímbula. Once. it was thought that the sound of the thumb piano could reach as far as the heavens and could draw down the spirits.

Most original African kalimbas had the tines (keys) mounted on a flat board, rather than on a box on which the modern Kalimba is made, which is hollowed out to give resonance. Some, like the Balian Coconut thumb piano (see below) is built on a coconut shell to provide a wonderfully resonating 'plong'!