Do You know Uganda’s Local Musical Instruments

Uganda has a number of traditional instruments which aren’t well known but tend to make appearances in local bands and world music. Abraham Sekasi specialises in these instruments and helps make introductions to them.

Drum: In Buganda, we called the drum, Engoma, and it’s one of the most treasured instruments in the African community. In my tribe, it was used to communicate events and tragedies that either happened, were happening, or about to happen – like hunting, war, and worship. A tune, or percusive melody, was played and each melody could indicate a different event in order that the community could respond.

Akogo/Kalimba/Mbira: In English, this is called the ‘Thumb Piano’ and it is a small, hand-held, hollow box with metal prongs that are plucked by the musician. This was originally used mostly by nomads because it was simple, compact and could be easily carried. When they sat down to rest they could simply take out the instrument and play to forget the past and pass the time. In Uganda, this instrument is more normally found and used by West Nile tribes and those from the north of the country.

Endingidi: This is a stringed fiddle and it is easily recongisable as it usually has one string stretched along a wood piece between a base and the instrument’s top. It is played with a bow. The Endingidi is tuned on a pentatonic scale which has five notes per octave rather than the normal seven. It is mostly used by the Baganda and the Basoga people in their traditional orchestras.

Mbaire (Lusoga) / Madinda (Luganda): This is also known as the Marimba or Xylophone in English. This tends to be the lead instrument in many traditional orchestras in Uganda as it is used to tune the other instruments.

Adungu: This is also known as the African bow harp and it originated from the Northern and Western Nile areas. It plays on the diatonic scale which has eight notes in it. You can recognise it as the player holds the base and then plucks the many strings that are attached to its curved bow. The Adungu has specific stories and dances that accompany it.

Entongooli: This is known as the Lyre. In Uganda it usually has a round base and a triangular frame on which the strings are attached. It is mostly played by the Baganda and Basoga. In Kenya, it is mostly played by the Kikuyus.

These are some of the main instruments but don’t even touch on the wind section with the Enkwanzi (Panpipes), Omulele (Flutes) and Agwara (Horns).

The wood instruments, such as the Madinda and Endingidi are made from the native Ugandan Musambya tree – also known as the Nile Tulip or the Bell Bean Tree.

If you’d like to see a whole orchestra of traditional instruments played the best place to go is the Ndere Centre in Kisaasi on Sunday nights for their family show from 4pm to 9pm. If you’d like lessons or to know more about traditional instruments contact Abraham Sekasi: . Email: abramsek@gmail.com. Or phone: +256 (0) 774 146 040.