Ngoni

Sound and Character

The sound of the ngoni is dry, transparent, percussion-like, and very brisk, simultaneously resembling a banjo and a ukulele with an African flavor.

Design and Features

A small oval or round body made of a piece of wood, covered with goat or antelope skin, connected to a simple fretless wooden neck. Between 4 and 7 strings are stretched across the instrument.

Genres Used In

• Traditional music of Malian griots
• West African blues and folk-fusion