The Adungu is a stringed instrument we encountered in Northern Uganda. We also recorded an Adungu group in Kampala, as we passed back through on the way to Entebbe.
It is an arched harp instrument with between 7 and 10 or more strings. They vary in size between smaller instruments, played close to the body and the larger bass adungu, on which the player can sit.
The sound box is commonly covered in animal hide, and is also at times used as a percussion instrument – by a musician sitting behind the adungu, hitting it with a beater.
We are pleased to have an Adungu as part of the Singing Wells instrument library. It is currently in our London studio.