Gnawa Guinbri / Santir #802
Regular $600
A three-stringed long-necked lute, also called guinbri or santir, is the main melodic instrument of the Gnawa. This plucked lute (guinbri or santir) is one of the most common stringed instruments found in West Africa and is known to be form the khalam in Senegal or ngoni in Mali. It is also said to be the ancestor of the American banjo. This guinbri or santir is made from a hollowed tree trunk covered with camelor cow skin stretched to form a soundboard. The metal part with rings, also called sarsal or sarsar, is mounted at end of the neck by entering tight the pointy end into the preexisting whole at the top end of the neck.. The neck is basically a wooden pole, and the three strings are sheep gut which are very traditional. The strings are tuned in fourths and held with leather bands that serve as tuning pegs. With the guinbri or santir, Gnawa (descendents of former enslaved people from the sub-Saharan region) play music with intricate textures and astonishing rhythmic patterns with great pleasure!
For the appreciation, we throw in a free set of cords and a free audio CD with music played using a Gnawa guimbri! which will give you an idea of how it is played.
Overall including the sarsal: 58” Long
Sarsal: 10” long
Neck: 24 “ Long
Quantity Available: 0
Price: $499.00
