Discover the world of Hokema — beautiful sound instruments crafted from the finest materials in a solar-powered, family-run workshop in Germany. We Play Well Together is proud to bring Hokema to the North American market, building an interconnected community around these distinctive instruments that anyone can pick up and play.
Hokema's family-run workshop in Walsrode, Germany
What's a Kalimba?
The kalimba (also known as Sansa or Mbira) originates from the traditional music of sub-Saharan Africa and belongs to the lamellophone family. It was particularly widespread among the Chewa and Tumbuka peoples of Malawi. Several metal tines are attached to a resonating body and plucked with the fingers or thumbs. The instrument's sound is warm, soft, and gentle, with a naturally relaxing effect — played solo or blended harmoniously with other instruments.
What's a Sansula?
A Sansula is a kalimba mounted on a drum head — a patented innovation by Hokema. By placing the metal-tined instrument onto a membrane, vibrations are first stored in the wooden block and then transmitted to the resonating surface. This produces a sound far more prolonged than with other forms of amplification. Thanks to the Sansula's special tuning in adjacent octaves, a wonderfully soft sound full of overtones can be easily coaxed from the instrument.
What's an Elektro Kalimba?
Elektro kalimbas are equipped with a piezo pickup and a 6.35mm jack socket, allowing you to plug directly into an amp or DI box — ideal for live performances, Zoom sessions, Instagram Live, or any digital broadcast. Hokema makes both acoustic kalimbas and models with a built-in pickup so you can capture the instrument's sound directly without a microphone.
Family-Run Craftsmanship and Innovation
Peter and Hugo Hokema, the father-and-son team behind Hokema instruments
Founder Peter Hokema developed a passion for world instruments while studying music. Captivated by traditional African plucked instruments, he set out to bring them to Germany — and in 2001, he invented the Sansula: an oval wooden frame covered with a drum skin, with a small kalimba suspended freely in the center. The instrument was met with enthusiasm from the start and has since found a home among professional musicians, composers, sound artists, yoga practitioners, sound-healing facilitators, meditation teachers, music therapists, early childhood educators, and wellness advocates.
Each Sansula is assembled by hand in Walsrode, Germany
High-Quality Materials and Sustainable Production
Today, Hokema is led by Peter's son Hugo Hokema, continuing the family's commitment to quality and sustainability. With a team of 9, Hokema has grown into one of the world's leading manufacturers of handcrafted, easy-to-play kalimbas.
Instruments are finished with chemical-free vegetable oil
Every kalimba and Sansula is made by hand with meticulous craftsmanship. Hokema uses only high-quality materials — resonating bodies are made from fine American cherry wood, with no tropical woods used. All parts are produced in Walsrode, Germany, using materials sourced exclusively from German suppliers. The factory runs on renewable energy from a rooftop photovoltaic system, and the wood is finished with chemical-free vegetable oil.
Hokema also offers workshops and tutorials on how to play, tune, and retune their instruments — a perfect complement to We Play Well Together's own community gatherings, classes, and live experiences.
We Play Well Together with Hokema
Hugo Hokema and Gabriele Schwibach, exclusive North American distributor for Hokema
We Play Well Together is proud to be the exclusive North American distributor for Hokema Kalimbas. All Hokema products in the USA come through us — sold directly through our website or through our network of retail and online partners.
We Play Well Together is a woman-owned American company founded by Gabriele Schwibach, who has enjoyed a long-standing working relationship with the Hokema family in her native Germany. Gabriele has created a special niche for unique instruments that have grown increasingly popular in recent years. We're glad to have you as part of our extended family.
I have only had my Monolina C for about 10 days, and already I have fallen in love with it. The craftsmanship is beautiful. I purchased the legs and travel bag as well, and yesterday traveled with it to visit a friend who is recovering from surgery. I tried out the placement of the monolina on her body, and she said it felt amazing and reduced her level of discomfort tremendously! I also really appreciate the excellent customer service from Gabriele, who helped me with some questions about purchasing, and then with some initial tuning questions. I was also able to attend one of the Monochord Monday Meet-Ups, which I found very inspiring. I highly recommend both this company and the high quality instruments!
I run this kalimba through effects pedals and get some amazing soundscapes with it. Very versatile and beautiful. Highly recommended. I appreciate that we play well together carries these wonderful instruments. Highly recommended.
A beautiful Kalimba. I run this through effects pedals and you can do some amazing musical soundscapes with it. I would certainly buy again. I appreciate weplaywelltogether carrying and shipping this item. Highly recommended.
A delicate and elegant musical instrument. I like that it is tuned to key of C. It is not for leaving outside on the patio, but rather kept with other musical instruments. I love the sound of it with my kalimba.
