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Not so many instruments are played in Rwandan music as it is essentially a vocal genre. The instruments that are played include, Ikembe, Umudari, Ingoma as well as an instrument named the Inanga. Pictured below is a picture of a Hutu man playing the Inanga instrument and even though the instruments are made and played mostly by the men, the Inanga however is played by both men and women.
The Inanga in Rwandan history is an instrument used particularly in praise music of the Kings and was believed to have been introduced by the Tutsi themselves but was played by the Hutu and the Twa. Because of the royal connection, this instrument was seen as belonging to the upper classes. The Inanga is a stringed instrument that is carved from a single piece of wood and played during rituals. It has a flat sound box which is the resonator with concave sides and is about three feet long and 12 inches wide.
Between 6-9 strings are attached to the narrow ends of the soundboard and is decorated often with either star shaped or oval incisions. A single performer does both the playing of the instrument and the singing of the songs that relate historical occurrences, personal experiences or current events.
1 Comment-
Wonderful!!
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