The violin, pulling on the heartstrings of Africa – Pan African Music

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A man in an orange traditional outfit and blue cap plays a stringed instrument outdoors, plucking at the heartstrings of passersby. A rustic wooden and metal structure stands in the background, adding to the earthy ambiance.

The violin – in all its forms – undoubtably plays a major role in the music of the African continent. Here we present an overview of the stringed instrument, played by those who made it famous in the past, as well as those who celebrate its resonance today.

The Ethiopian masenqo

Much like the krar lyre or the kebero drum, the Ethiopian single-stringed fiddle also known as the masenqo, is the instrument of choice for the Azmaris. These musicians have shaken up Addis Ababa’s nightlife within the city’s popular cabarets, thanks to…