String Instruments
Are musical instruments that have strings.
Produce sound by
Plucking
Strumming
Bowing
Rubbing the strings
Categories of String Instruments
Bows
Examples of Bows in Kenyan Communities
Abakuria- Entono
Mijikenda- Uta
Kamba- Uta wa Wanthi
Types of musical bow
Ground bow- eg. Nderemo by kikuyu
Mouth bow- eg obokano by kuria
Hunters bow- eg entono by kuria
2. Harps
3. Lyres
Examples of Lyres in Kenyan Communities
Obokano- Abagusii
Nyatiti- Luo
4. Zithers
Examples of Zithers in Kenyan Communities
Makhana- Abaluhya
There different types of string instruments found among the Kenya communities. Each instrument has specific community of origin.
STRING INSTRUMENTS | COMMUNITY OF ORIGIN |
Shiriri or ishiriri or silili | Abaluhya |
Litungu | Abaluhya |
Limoyi | Abaluhya |
Ongengo | Abagusii |
Obokano | Abagusii |
Nderemo | Agikuyu |
Wandindi | Agikuyu |
Entono | Abakuria |
Ekegogo | Abakuria |
Iritungu | Abakuria |
Orutu | Luo |
Uta | Mijikenda |
Uta wa wathi | Akamba |
Mbeve | Akamba |
Adeudeu | Iteso |
Mwazigizi or zeze | Taita |
Kimengeng | Kalegin |
Pukan | Pokot |
Chepkongo/ Chemonge | Kipsigis |
Nyatiti | Luo |
FIDDLE
Fiddles are string instruments that have one or two strings
FIDDLE | COMMUNITY |
Orutu | Luo |
Mbeve | Akamba |
Ekegogo | Abakuria |
Mwazigizi or zeze | Taita |
Ageregeret | Iteso |
Ishiriri | Abaluhya |
Wandindi | Kikuyu |
Kimeng’eng’ | Kalenjin |
Ong’eng,o or Otete | Abagusii |
String instruments can have one, two or more number of strings. A string instrument with one or two strings is called fiddle.
PLAYING IN AN INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE
An ensemble is a group of people who performs instrumental or vocal music together instruments being played together.
An instrumental ensemble consists of a group of instruments being played together
An instrument can be percussion instruments, winds instruments or string instruments
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