Forming The Rayiro Orchestra pt. 3: The Inanga ReDzimbahwe

By:

Anesu Ndoro

On

23/04/2024

Reading time:

3 min

Summary:

In line with creating the Rayiro Orchestra, here I'll be writing about the Inanga reDzimbahwe. Loosely translated, 'Inanga reDzimbahwe' ought to be read as 'Inanga in the tradition of Dzimbahwe music'. I think this name will make finding the roots of this instrument easier, although of course many musical roots from around the African continent are present in it. Special thanks to Deo Munyakazi's indispensable contribution to this instrument coming to life! Happy reading!

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Myself and the Inanga reDzimbahwe prototype, circa 2024

The Inanga reDzimbahwe

First of all, context! Check out the Inanga ReDzimbahwe being played here.

The Inanga/Enanga/Kinanda/Nanga/Ligombo trough zither is a family of instruments that originate from East Africa in Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A similar group of instruments are the Bangwe/Pangwe zithers. The Bangwe board zithers are a family of fairly similar instruments played in southern Tanzania, central Mozambique, Malawi, and northeastern Zimbabwe, although in the latter area players have become fewer.

When I travelled to Rwanda in 2022, I was able to purchase an inanga from a friend who plays it professionally (hi Deo Munyakazi!). When I say this guy is talented, I'm not messing around. Check out his music on YouTube!

In the Rwandan tradition, as Deo explained, the notes of the strings are arranged on a pentatonic scale. The instrument has 10 strings of which typically only 7 or 8 are actually played: these are the first 5 notes of the scale, then the 2 or 3 notes which are an octave lower. All this to say it's organized very differently from Zimbabwe's music. The Bangwe is more akin to the mbira in that it is composed of a heptatonic (7 note) scale. The other key issue for learners is playing technique. The Inanga from Burundi is often held with the strings facing away from the musician, while the Inanga technique in Rwanda favors the instrument sitting across the lap of the player. I also found the fingering/strumming style of the instrument very complicated yet extremely fascinating.

Influences On The Inanga ReDzimbahwe

By taking the body of the east African Inanga/Enanga, the tuning system and metallic body of the southern African Bangwe, the strings of the Chinese Guzheng zither (a huge thanks to Gary Spalter for helping bring these to Zimbabwe!), the tuning pegs of the Western acoustic guitar, I've tried once more to extend the repertoire of Zimbabwe's/Africa's traditional instruments. Africa's instruments and instrument makers are constantly in conversation with each other, and my fascination with this concept of cultural cross pollination has led me here, to the Inanga reDzimbahwe.

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The wooden bridges are movable to make changing the tuning more convenient

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Instrument Sound

Loosely translated, 'Inanga reDzimbahwe' ought to be read as 'Inanga in the tradition of Dzimbahwe music'. I think this name will make finding the roots of this instrument easier, although of course many musical roots from around the African continent are present in it. Typically, inangas have a soft and quiet sound (part of the reason why I sourced Guzheng steel strings since they are a bit louder than the cotton/nylon strings typically used in contemporary times). I'm curious to see which instruments will get along with it. The new scale makes it possible to arrange mbira songs on it, as you can see in the video linked above.

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