A trough-style traditional zither played in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the soundboard with concave sides and six to eight string pitches on the pentatonic scale, its evocative plucked sound is often accompanied by poetic, sometimes whispered song narratives. The instrument is usually 75cm to a metre in length, and 25 to 30cm in width. The wooden soundboard has two types of decorations: star-shaped or oval incisions, which are referred to as "the eyes of the inanga”. These serve to distribute sound ad soundboard may also be decorated with burnt wood markings.
These strings are typically grouped into the following: the imihanuro, the top two strings, the imirya y'amajwi-ihibongoza, the middle strings, and the imyakiro, the last two strings. The strings actually consist only of one, very long string that's threaded through the notches.
With a long history, early famous performers included Rwanda’s leader, Yuki III Mazimpaka of the early 18th century, known as a brilliant poet and skilled musician who told tales of the rise of the Tutsi kingdom. The inanga is almost always played to accompany the player singing a repeated, melodic motif in a distinct, whispery voice with songs usually concerning traditional folklore, historical events, personal experiences, or everyday incidents.
Inanga played in Burundi
Alternative spellings and words of the instrument include: enanga, ennanga, ikivuvu, and indimbagazo.
Rwanda where the instrument’s is most revered, and notable players include Thomas Kirusu, Victor Kabarira, Sentore Masamba, Vianney Mushabizi, Jules Sentore, Joseph Sebatunzi, Daniel Ngarukiye, and Sophie Nzayisenga. Examples of a few mesmeric performances are below as well as some particularly whispery, vivid performers from Burundi:
So then, anything else share in relation to sounds of the inanga, in music or wider African culture? Feel free to suggest examples, or even from film, art, or other contexts in comments below.
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