Bugala

/buːˈɡɑːlə/ noun

Definition

A traditional Ugandan stringed musical instrument similar to a lyre, played by plucking strings.

Etymology

From Luganda, the language of the Baganda people of Uganda. The word originates from the Bantu language family and refers to an ancient musical tradition among East African cultures.

Kelly Says

The bugala is one of the oldest stringed instruments in Africa, predating European contact by centuries, and its eight strings were historically tuned to specific scales that matched the tonal patterns of the Luganda language itself.

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