Robbi K on WE PLAY WELL TOGETHER Instruments & The Spirit of Kwanzaa
WE PLAY WELL TOGETHER presents an online Kwanza celebration with Musical Artist Robbi Kumalo
Our friend Robbi K offered a live Zoom Kwanzaa Celebration in which she shared how she uses her instrument collection in connection with Kwanza: an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26th to January 1st. This video features highlights of her presentation featuring the WE PLAY WELL TOGETHER family of instruments. Featured in this video are: the Zenko Drum by Metal Sounds (in Combo Tuning), a feeltone Monolini Monochord (in F Tuning), and a Hokema Kalimba (Renaissance in A-minor.)
Robbi Kumalo is a musician whose career spans decades and was recently featured on the Grammy-nominated Album "All One Tribe."
For more than 25 years, Robbi K's concerts have been joyous and exhilarating, with a focus on amusing and edifying the entire family, from parents to grandparents, toddlers to teens. Everybody participates with voices, hands, feet and hearts. Robbi K’s powerful lyric soprano has graced TV commercials for the likes of Coca Cola, Lincoln Mercury,and GE, while onstage and in studios it has served her well in establishing an active career as a back-up singer for such superstars as Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Jewel, Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, Daniel Rodriquez, Mary J. Blige, and Harry Belafonte.
Robbi K presents a variety of lively, interactive musical and storytelling concerts including "Keep the Beat,” which has been performed most recently at NYC’s Symphony Space, The Philadelphia International Children's Festival; The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Florida; The State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey; and The Berks Jazz Festival. Robbi’s most requested show, which plays in venues nationwide, is inspired by Paul Simon's Grammy winning Graceland. As a storyteller, “Turtle’s Shell,” derived from her Parents' Choice Award winning CD Keep the Beat! she incorporates music and spoken word in an outstanding and unique manner.
Robbi was a 2021 contributor to the grammy nominated "All One Tribe" album. The 25-track project from the newly organized 1 Tribe Collective celebrates the rich culture and diversity that Black voices bring to family music by presenting the sounds of 24 family music artists from across the USA.
We're honored to have Robbi K as part of our feeltone Monochord community where she's generously shared her musical gifts in our Monochord Monday Meetup sessions on Zoom we've held throughout the pandemic. Robbi also regularly shares in the Sounding Soak concert series on the Sounding Circles Club on Clubhouse. Robbi is a fantastic ambassador of We Play Well Together as she incorporates all of our instruments (Monochord, Zenko Drum, Tinka Tongs, Kalimbas and Sansulas) into her musical offerings.
Blog posts
Explore our Earth (C-Major) Collection
All of our instrument groups: Monochord, Tinka Tongs, Kalimbas & Sansulas, Koshi and Zaphir Chimes are available in this tuning
Explore our Air (A-minor) Collection
All of our instrument groups: Monochord, Tinka Tongs, Kalimbas & Sansulas, Koshi and Zaphir Chimes are available in this tuning
Explore our Water (d-minor) Collection
Learn more about the Instruments of this collection and watch our bautiful videos
Explore our Fire (G-Major) Collection
The products are already available and the videos going to be released Autumn 2025
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the craftsmanship, (and craftswomanship) is incredible, and her sound. so resonant and otherworldly. I'm so happy with my new Monolina in G. I can't wait to play her for my community. Thank you Gabriele for your outstanding customer service.
This has such a lovely sound! I can’t wait to start learning how to play!
A few years ago I became casually interested in the Kalimba because of its simplicity of design and playability. Without experience or a good point of reference I needed to taste a lot of flavors to sort out the choices. For a while, my discards kept the local Goodwill store supplied with inventory.
The feeding frenzy stopped when I discovered Hokema. Build and material quality is professional grade. The tines are not stiff, so you can play at any intensity without stressing a thumb nails. Resonance from the solid wood base and the resulting sustain are simply stunning. Even the high notes sing, unlike the flat 'tapping an aluminum pan' sound from my discards.
I first purchased the B-17, and later the smaller B-17 Mini. Comments above apply to both. There is no problem holding, playing, or carrying around either instrument. The Mini's smaller footprint might be more comfortable for small hands. I just like the smaller package. Because the B-17's wood block is wider, it has more space between the tines. Both instruments appear to use the same tine assembly materials, but the Mini has a shorter cross bar. The Mini's tine spacing is grouped, but they can be adjusted to make the spacing more uniform like the B-17. In that mode, even with the smaller block the tine spacing is noticeably wider than some other Kalimbas I've tried. My thumbs are average width for a 5'8" person and my nails are normally rounded (not pointed), and I have no trouble playing individual notes.
Tablature is available around the net for 17-key Kalimbas (RiffSpot has a nice ebook), so you can play tunes without reading music on both the B-17 and B-17 Mini.
Hokema kalimbas are as nice sounding as any I have ever heard. WPWT provides fast shipping and quick responses to inquires.
Enjoyable to use and very good quality for more percussive techniques.
These chimes are exquisite, and We Play Well Together is a great company to purchase from.
Highly recommended!
I have a Monolina for my Sound Healing practice, but wanted a monilini for myself. I am so happy with my purchase. It is perfect!
I bought a Sansula deluxe at We play well together. The service was exceptionnal and I received it within 4 days. The Sansula's sound is simply magic. So rich and vibrant. It creates an ambiance of it's own.
Really happy and satisfied about this purchase.
I just took the week-long monochord training with Joule and fell in love with my Monolina. Joule is a fun, engaging and knowledgeable teacher who brings deep reverence to her instruments and the art of playing them. We got to experiment with and experience all the different ways of expressing through our monochords and came away with a proven, complete and beautiful 45-minute session we can now offer. I highly recommend this class.
Quick delivery, wonderful company and lovely instrument!
It is always a pleasure to speak to Gabriella and her customer service is top notch
this set is legit sounds like little angels 😇
I am new to the Monolina world but have been around stringed instruments all my life. I'm so excited about its possibilities as a solo instrument for use in Reiki, as well as in an ensemble setting. It helps me to meditate as well.
R
Used Monolina XL Low C We have a full set of crystal bowls, and the low C monochord adds a wonderful depth to their sounding. I also find myself humming/singing over the low C drone in a quite natural way. Very happy with my new instrument.
I've wanted to purchase a Sansula ever since I first heard one, two years ago. I finally purchased one and upon receiving it was disappointed in it's sound. Customer service was extremely helpful and promptly replaced it. Couldn't have been a better experience. I highly recommend the instrument and the company is top notch.
Works well. Delighted to have the ability to tune my Sansula myself.
We Play well together has been a resource for instruments for, at least, 5 years. The quality of the instruments, customer service, kindness and expertise of the staff has been a huge bonus and blessing in our interactions. I am grateful for their service, friendliness and flexibility. thank you so very much VLamura
These mallets are super fun to use and I love the sounds they create. I purchased a pair of each set of mallets and I love them all so much, I'm planning on keeping the pair I thought I would send back originally.
I have a set and love these so much. They are well made, and the sound is solid and carries well in small and large spaces. Highly recommend!
Wonderful instrument. It’s easy to travel with and well crafted. Customer service is wonderful as well. Very responsive. I am always impressed with the attention to customer service and care of the instruments. This instruments complement my crystal singing bowls and monalina nicely.
My G Monolina is perfect! Beautiful to play in a group, as well as on the body.
Absolutely in love, but should have ordered the bag! Ordering it now as it is was too fragile to travel with without the bag.
The instrument brigs such an amazing quality and super easy to play