Litungu

Description

"Wooden (plywood) sound board instead of (lizard) skin. The sound box is made of carved out piece of wood. Seven strings. Tuning knobs made of cloath and sisal. Movable bridge made of soft wood, for transposition. The tuning depends on the vocal range of the singer. Tuned by tightening the string on the wooden crosspiece. The litungu lyre provides melodic accompaniment to dances. Usually played by men. The player is usually a soloist; he plays and sings at the same time. He is often accompanied by the eshimuka shaker. Occasions: entertainment, harvest, competitions, beer drinking parties, child birth, story telling times. Original manufacture : Tendons from the cow were used for the strings instead of nylon; tuning knobs used to be made from banana leaves or leather laces." (Valentine Kihuha, Daniel Mabonga, Geoffrey Aswani, Music Department, Kenyatta University, 22, 27 November 2018) Made in the class Organology - Traditional musical Instruments, Music Department, Kenyatta University, Ruiru, Nairobi Style: West Kenya