All musical instruments are authentic pieces imported directly from west Africa
(Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone.). The craftsmen who create them are descended from families who have produced the same artefacts from generations. They have mastered the techniques of selecting materials and building instruments through the years. Hear for yourself the unique sound that first echoed through Africa and now the world
This Ngoni is a tetracorde (4) tunable Luth from Guinea West-Africa. it can also be built with three strings only.
The instrument is known to be very old, possibly older than the Balafon and the Kora and is played all over West Africa under many different names, depending of the ethnic group and language of the people playing it from West Africa to the north (Kerona for Peul).
It is a Jeli dedicated instrument.
Initially covered with snake skin, It is now composed of a wooden pole with a goatskin covered wooden resonance chamber in a pirogue form. In some versions, the resonance chamber is made out od calabash instead of wood.
Nylon strings are individually attached to the pole by means of leather rings.
Though nylon strings are used nowadays, it used to be animal hairs ( horsehair).
The strings are tuned by moving the self-blocking rings up and down the pole.
A resonator is sometimes attached at the end of the wooden pole.
The tuning of the instrument is directly related to the piece of traditional music being played, so there are many possible tunings for this instrument.
A single string version of this instrument is called "Molaru" (Peul).
The instrument is played
The instrument is played by Malinke and Peul ethic groups, traditionally played in a seated position, using the leg as support , but more and more lately, played standing like a guitar.
It is one of the most symbolic instrument for Jelis.
