Imzad
Encyclopedia
The imzad is a single-string bowed instrument used by the Tuareg people in Africa.

Its body is made out of a calabash
Calabash
Lagenaria siceraria , bottle gourd, opo squash or long melon is a vine grown for its fruit, which can either be harvested young and used as a vegetable, or harvested mature, dried, and used as a bottle, utensil, or pipe. For this reason, the calabash is widely known as the bottle gourd...

 or wood which is covered by animal skin. The strings are made from horse hair and are connected near the neck, and runs over a two part bridge. The round bow is also equipped with horse hair.

The imzad is only played by the women for example to accompany songs, often during an evening ceremony called takket. However, there are modern attempts to promote the instrument as inherent to Tuareg culture.

External links

Project page "Sauver l'imzad" with images and music examples
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