Sierra Leone Heritage ~ Reanimating cultural heritage

The bolon or bolon bata is a bow instrument with three strings of different pitch and a large calabash for its sound box. At the top there is a metal extension with small metal rings threaded through it. The idea ...[more]

The bolon or bolon bata is a bow instrument with three strings of different pitch and a large calabash for its sound box. At the top there is a metal extension with small metal rings threaded through it. The idea is to get an additional metallic resonance to the main sound of the instrument: as the strings of the bolon bata are plucked, the vibrations of the instrument cause a slight buzz or rattle of the little rings against the main piece of metal. The strings are plucked with the thumbs.

The bolon or bolon bata is a bow instrument with three strings of different pitch and a large calabash for its sound box. At the top there is a metal extension with small metal rings threaded through it. The idea is to get an additional metallic resonance to the main sound of the instrument: as the strings of the bolon bata are plucked, the vibrations of the instrument cause a slight buzz or rattle of the little rings against the main piece of metal. The strings are plucked with the thumbs. [less]