The inanga, also known as enanga, ennanga, ikivuvu, and indimbagazo, is a traditional musical instrument played in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The instrument is a plucked trough zither that consists of a flat soundboard with slightly concave sides, and a surrounding thick rim with notches to hold between six and eight strings.
Inangas range from 75 cm to 1 m in length and 25 to 30 cm in width, and are decorated with star-shaped or oval incisions on the soundboard. Strings are made from natural fibers or nylon and metal, and are tuned by tightening or loosening the strings according to the pentatonic scale.
Inanga players assume a sitting posture and rest the instrument against their lap, plucking the strings to produce a distinctive, whispery sound, often accompanied by singing of traditional folklore, historical events, personal experiences, or everyday incidents. In the past, the inanga was played by professional musicians for chiefs, and today, it is typically played by men. Notable Rwandan inanga players include Vianey Mushabizi, Sophie Nzayisenga, and Joseph Sebatunzi.
In Burundi, the inanga was traditionally played for the mwamis (sovereigns) of Burundi, and even to cows, as it was believed that they loved the sound.
(headline image: Vianey Mushabizi playing the inanga, courtesy of Antonovka Records)
Inanga recordings:
Burundi: Musiques traditionnelles (Ocora, 1998)
Vianey Mushabizi – Maître of Inanga: Music from Rwanda (Antonovka Records, 2022)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.