Ngoni

Description

This is an half-spike lute in which the neck does not extend all the way through the body of the instrument, but stops inside the resonator. The long, waisted canoe-shaped resonator body is carved from a single block of wood and is covered with animal skin, laced on the back with hide in a woven net pattern. The cylindrical neck pierces the top of the soundtable and terminates at the soundhole in a triple spiked-fork shape, where the strings are tied. There are three strings of vegetable fibers attached to the neck with adjustable leather hoops/strips. Two of the strings are anchored with brass wire. The bridge is missing. There is a thin strap of leather attached.