Ishiriri

Description

"Hollow carved out wooden sound box, covered on one end with animal skin (used to be lizard skin). The bow is made of sisal natuarl fibre. The strings is made of wire. The wire is tied to a tuning peg. Movable bridge. The ishiriri provides melodic accompaniment to dances; it is played by the soloist: he sings and plays at the same time. When playing together with other instruments, eg. the litungu, the player of the ishiriri does not sing; it is the litungu player who is then the solist. When played alone, the instrument imitates the voice, plays alternatively with the singer, repeating the same melody. Original manufacture : The soundbox used to be made from a tree that is protected now (you need to pay before you can use it): kumurembe, kumutoto, and likongwe; instead of the lizzard skin (salamander, protected now as well) goatskin can be used now" (Valentine Kihuha; Geoffry Aswani, Nairobi, 21, 27 November 2018) Made in the class Organology - Traditional musical Instruments, Music Department, Kenyatta University, Ruiru, Nairobi Style: West Kenya