Kondene

The kondene (or kondei) is a stringed instrument made from bow to which a animal skin covered calabash sound box is attached. In this example the sound box has been made from an enamel bowl. The bow is strung with a number of differently-pitched strings (made from deer skin), which pass through a bridge mounted on the skin. It shares some features of the bolon bata and others of the kora. As with the kora, two sticks pass through the skin. The player curls the ring-finger and little finger of both hands round these two sticks to hold the instrument while plucking the strings with index fingers and thumbs. According to Cootje van Oven they are associated with the Yalunka people, and particular with Yalunka hunting music.

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Further Information

  • Type: Musical instruments
  • Object: Kondene
  • Materials: Wood, Metal, Leather, animal skin
  • Culture Group: Yalunka
  • Dimensions: Unknown
  • Production Date: 1965
  • Associated Places: Bullom Mahera Chiefdom
  • Associated People: Amara Turay
  • Museum: Sierra Leone National Museum
  • Accession Number: SLNM.1965.74.01.01

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