Stringed Musical Instrument

Item number Af500 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

Item Records

This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.

The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.

These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.

Data
Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Gourd harp-like instrument. Forked piece of branch (part b), with a straight section of equal length to that of the forks, and with a stick going across the top creating a triangular frame. One side has nine holes pierced through by burning. Five grass strings are tied into five of them and go to the opposite side and wind around the stick. Piece of cord around unpierced end. Separated from frame is half of a brown-yellow gourd (part a), of which the top centre has four pierced holes on it with cracks around them, and grass going through two holes at the base of the gourd.

History Of Use

Forked obah or harp is a simpler version of the lyre. The sound board in this case is half of a dried gourd which the player places against his body to vary the tonal effects. The strings are plucked with the fingers. The obah is used as a solo or as an accompanying instrument. It is important for entertainment and is integral to many rituals and ceremonies, especially those connected with birth, initiation, marriage, and death. A player is trained young, in order to perform well.