Fula Violin

A nyayaru , or chordophone, known colloquially as a Fula violin. It is composed of a gourd resonator and dark hair stretched over a bridge and up the wooden neck. The gourd resonator is covered in scaled reptile skin, probably snake, and secured by cane pins. Is it played with a bow made from an arched split cane, with animal hair, bounded at the ends with twisted fibre.

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Further Information

• Type: Musical instruments
• Object: Fula Violin
• Materials: Leather, animal skin, Vegetable, organic fibre, Wood
• Culture Group: Fula
• Dimensions: 540mm [L] x 240mm [W] x 110mm [C]
• Production Date: Pre 1943
• Associated Places: Unknown
• Associated People: Alice Byrne
• Museum: British Museum
• Accession Number: BM:Af.1943.2.3.a.b

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