A Tubman Museum exhibit displays the history of an often-overlooked instrument: the kazoo. Macon claims to be where the kazoo was invented, however, those details have never been verified.
Jeff Bruce, the curator at the Tubman, shared the story behind the invention of the kazoo and explained why it may not be true.
Alabama Vest, a freed slave who lived in Macon in the 1840s, is said to have invented the kazoo. Vest developed a prototype for the instrument and partnered with a clockmaker in Macon named Thaddeus von Clegg. The two brought their invention to the Georgia State Fair, which was held in Central City Park.
“It was this unique, 19th century partnership between a Black inventor and a white entrepreneur,” Bruce says, “They worked together to perfect this invention, and then they presented it to the world in 1852.”
However, Bruce says this version of events may not be accurate.
“None of what I just said can be proven to be true,” Bruce says. “We don’t have any record of anybody named Alabama Vest.”
Additionally, Bruce said there’s no record of anyone presenting any item similar to a kazoo at the 1852 Georgia State Fair. Based on evidence, the story of Vest inventing the kazoo is probably folklore.
Bruce says it is difficult to determine exactly when the kazoo was invented. He feels that similar devices were likely used in various places worldwide, making it difficult to determine the inventor’s identity.
There are varying stories as to how the kazoo was invented, and the tale claiming it was Alabama Vest is the most popular, he said
“The story that I just told you is the story that most people want to be true,” Bruce says. “It’s a great story.”
Although the Macon origins of the kazoo can’t be verified, the exhibit celebrates this story and hopes to make it part of Macon’s history by breaking the world record for the largest kazoo ensemble at the end of March. Macon made two unsuccessful attempts to set the record in 2007 and 2008. The current Guinness World Record was set in London in 2011 with 5,190 participants.
Bruce says it is important for those in Macon to learn about this history to highlight the work of Black inventors. The Tubman Museum has a separate exhibit that showcases additional creations by these developers.
“A lot of that technology, a lot of those tools that we use, turns out they come from the minds of African-American inventors,” Bruce says.
When asked why people should visit the kazoo exhibit, Bruce said everyone has had some experience with the instrument at some point. For example, he discussed how children are often given a kazoo at a birthday party.
“I think when you get a chance to take those common experiences that everybody has and never really thought twice about, and find out that there’s all these interesting stories that go with it, that’s a cool thing to be a part of,” Bruce says.
