One embilta, an end-blown bamboo flute, which is stopped at the lower end by a node. It has no fingerholes, and produces only one note. This embilta is part of a set of 15 similar stopped flutes (Horniman Museum numbers: 23.2.65/8-23), made in graduated sizes. A recording of a dance accompanied by an ensemble of these types of flutes was made in Gidole in 1965 by Jean Jenkins, the curator who collected the examples in the Museum. The recording illustrates the flutes being played mainly in 'hocket' style, with each player adding one note to the music in turn.
Embilta flutes are played in several regions of Ethiopia. They are associated with the fila, a round dance, in which each man has a single pipe and plays it in turn, 'hocket' style. These flutes were collected by Jean Jenkins in Gidole, Gemu-Gofa, in the South of Ethiopia. She also made a recording of music by an ensemble of these types of flutes, accompanying a dance in Gidole in 1965.
