A plucked stringed instrument originating in Ukraine, resembling a lute or zither with a large round body and many metal strings, played with hammers or picks.
From Ukrainian бандура (bandura), of unclear origin but possibly from Greek pandoura or related to Germanic lute traditions. The instrument developed distinctly in Ukraine by medieval times.
The bandura was transformed from a folk instrument into a symbol of Ukrainian national identity—Soviet regimes tried to suppress it because of its nationalist associations, making it a powerful emblem of cultural resistance.
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