A stringed musical instrument with a round drum-like body and a long neck, with a bright, twangy sound.
Banjo comes from African languages through American slavery, likely from Bantu languages like 'mbanza' or similar words. It entered English in the 1700s as an African American instrument that became central to American folk and bluegrass music.
The banjo's origin story is complex and sobering—it came from Africa and was further developed by enslaved people in America, making it uniquely connected to African American culture and the birth of American music itself!
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