Zande kundi arched harp

Pluck the five to seven strings of the arched harp, following melodic patterns with call-and-response.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of South Sudan. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

Usually placed in the era of Classical Worlds (about 1000 BCE to 500 CE), although its exact origins are uncertain, within the cultural world of Africa: Nile and the Horn.