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Ramkie
The Ramkie (also called an ''Afri-can'') is a type of guitar usually made in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Malawi. It is made using a discarded oil can (or similar) for the soundbox. It has three or four strings (rarely six like a guitar), made of fishing wire or bicycle brake wire, and may be fretted or fretless. The instrument has apparently always been used for repetitive chord-playing, not melodic patterns. History The instrument is recorded as early as 1730 among the Khoikhoi people in the Cape, although its earlier history is unclear. Such early ramkies had a gourd for its body. The name probably comes from Portuguese language, Portuguese "rabequinha" ("little violin"). It was later adapted by the San people, San and Bantu peoples, Bantu speakers, and the gourd body replaced by wood or a tin can. See also *Segankuru. Fiddle made similarly to Ramkie, from Southern Africa. References {{Reflist Southern African musical instruments Guitar family instrumen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Segankuru
The segankuru is a bowed trough zither, bar zither or musical bow, a string instrument found in Botswana and other areas of South Africa, and found under many names. It consists of a wooden body attached to a tin can resonator, with a single metal string played with a bow. The instruments main role is for self or group entertainment for young men, while herding cattle, etc. It is known as the ''segaba'', ''sebinjolo'' and ''segankuru'' among the Tswana people, the ''sekgobogobo'' or ''setseketseke'' among the Pedi people. Also called the ''setinkane'' or ''stinkane''. Characteristics Type A The instrument consists of a long straight stick, carved with a trough in the top, strung with a string from the end of the instrument to a tuning peg at the top, and a 5-liter sized metal can covering the bottom of the instrument (and flattened to hold it on). The trough is carved into the stick to change the sound. The tin can acts as a resonator. An instrument might be 86 Cm long x 6 cm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
