The forerunner of this instrument was brought to the kingdom of Buganda (Uganda) in company with Arab caravans from the East shore of Africa in the late 19th century. The instrument was developed in Uganda as a an instrument with a pipe and one string and became popular among the neighbouring regions as a consequence of the travelling of the Arab political delegates. The tube-shaped resonance part of the instrument is usually made from the pieces of a tree trunk. A piece made from a cow horn which is open through its bottom part is used as resonator in Rudanda (the instrument is called as ‘Iningidi’ there) and in Ankole (South part of Uganda) and especially in Burundi (there the instrument is called ‘Indonongo’) as in the version we have.The resonator is covered with an animal skin compressed by the pieces of wood. The string lies on a plant core. At a close point to the starting point of the neck, wood resin is put for the bow. The bow is covered and tied with the aloe tree wood fiber. This instrument is played only by men. A smooth touch from one side shortens the string.
