Uganda's Traditional Instruments

Did you know that Uganda has over 50 tribes; each with a distinctive language, culture and norms, way of living, dresscode, food and dance. 

Each tribe cherishes a special instrument and others have an ensemble. 

The Bantu tribes use many instruments in their musical and dance sessions compared to other ethnic groups. 

Below is a list of instruments.

Adungu (String bow harp) mostly used in West Nile and Northern Uganda, 

Akogo (Thumb piano) is used by the Itesots, 

Awal (gourd crackers) is identical with the Acholi, 

Binyege (leg rattles) are mostly used by Banyoro- Batoro and Banyankore people, 

(E)ndere,(vertical flutes), 

Kacence (reed rattles), 

Madinda (xylophone) - embaire (Lusoga language) is a keyboard-like instrument in Buganda and Busonga, 

Mbuutu (conical-main drum)- mixing drum of the Baganda, 

Mpuunyi (conical beat drum) - central beat provider drum of the baganda, 

Nankasa also known as Namunjjoloba (signal drum), 

(E)ngalabi (long necked cylindrical drum),

Mujjaguzzo ( Royal drums), 

Mugudo (long cylindrical drums,

(E)ndingidi, other generic names are Endingiri, Ligirigi (tube fiddle), 

(E)goobore (the war tuned instrument that is amplified through the gourd), 

(E)ndege (ankle bells), 

(E)ndongo other generic names include Tongoli, Entongooli (8-string bowl lyre,

(E)nsaasi (gourd rattles), 

Ebigwara also known as Agwara (wooden trumpet), 

(E)nanga, other generic names include Nanga, (The Trough Zither) , 

(E)nkwanzi (Pan Pines), 

Luma- These are single stopped pipes, and many others.

In the next article, we shall be providing images of each instrument listed above.

Thank you for stopping by.