Bow harp
Accession Number:
[1985.24.3]
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] ?Bahr el Jebel ?Western Equatoria Yei River District Panyume
Date Made:
1984
Materials:
Wood Plant , Goat Skin Animal , Nylon Synthetic
Process:
Carpentered , Covered
Dimensions:
L (total) = 565 mm L (body) = 180 mm W (max) = 100 mm D = 50 mm
Local Name:
adungu
Field Collector:
Lutaya Expedition
PRM Source:
Lutaya Expedition via B.E. Harrell-Bond
Acquired:
Purchased 1985
Collected Date:
July to September 1984
Description:
Bow harp made of wood, goat skin and nylon thread.
Collected by the Lutaya Expedition between July and September 1984 at the Panyme Refugee Settlement, which is located in the Yei River District, near the Ugandan border.; this was a seven-member research and support expedition from the Third World Society of Oxford University, to settlements for Ugandan refugees from West Nile Province, Uganda. This example was made specially from the expedition by a student and his brothers, along with 1985.24.1-2 and 4; the hide and wood were soaked in a river for around four days. The craftsmen walked about 40 miles with these instruments to sell them to the group. These would be played as a band together with a large bass, and other more improvised instruments such as plastic bowls for drums and two tin lids mounted on a stand as cymbals.
This type of harp is known as adungu. The collector did not specify the cultural group who made or would use this object, but adungu is an term used by the Acholi - see harps 1994.60.1-2 and 1998.9.1 for other examples of the type. For other adungu collected by the Lutaya Expedition, see 1985.24.1 and 1985.24.5.
Rachael Sparks 29/9/2005.
Collected by the Lutaya Expedition between July and September 1984 at the Panyme Refugee Settlement, which is located in the Yei River District, near the Ugandan border.; this was a seven-member research and support expedition from the Third World Society of Oxford University, to settlements for Ugandan refugees from West Nile Province, Uganda. This example was made specially from the expedition by a student and his brothers, along with 1985.24.1-2 and 4; the hide and wood were soaked in a river for around four days. The craftsmen walked about 40 miles with these instruments to sell them to the group. These would be played as a band together with a large bass, and other more improvised instruments such as plastic bowls for drums and two tin lids mounted on a stand as cymbals.
This type of harp is known as adungu. The collector did not specify the cultural group who made or would use this object, but adungu is an term used by the Acholi - see harps 1994.60.1-2 and 1998.9.1 for other examples of the type. For other adungu collected by the Lutaya Expedition, see 1985.24.1 and 1985.24.5.
Rachael Sparks 29/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[p.
68] - 1985.24 (.1 - 14) P[urchase] LUTAYA EXPEDITION, c/o B.
E.
HARRELL-BOND, ...
OXFORD.
A collection of items made by the Lutaya Expedition to YEI RIVER DISTRICT, EQUATORIA, SUDAN, 1984.
This was a seven-member research and support expedition from the Third World Society of Oxford University, to settlements for Ugandan refugees from West Nile Province, Uganda.
See Related Documents File for notes and field photographs.
[1985.24] .1 - 4 SUDAN - EQUATORIA - YEI RIVER DISTRICT - PANYUME REFUGEE SETTLEMENT [1 of a] Set of 4 stringed musical instruments,
adungu
, in different sizes.
The necks and bodies are made of wood, the bodies [p.
69] being covered in goatskin; the strings are nylon.
Made especially for the vendors.
The skin and wood were soaked in a river for 4 days prior to manufacture.
The
adungus
would be played as a band together with a large bass and other improvised instruments such as plastic bowls for drums and 2 tin lids mounted on a stand for cymbals.
See RDF for photographs.
[1985.24] .3 = total L = 565 mm; L body = 180 mm; max W = 100 mm; D = 50 mm.
Additional accession book entry [p. 68, under accession number, in red biro] - A11-F16-1, 2, 9, 10.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 28/1/2004].
Related Documents File - 1985.24, a typed document headed 'Lutaya Expedition to Yei River District, Equatoria, Sudan July-September 1984. Subheading: 'Third world First Society, Oxford University. A seven-member research and support expedition to settlements for Ugandan refugees from West Nile Province, Uganda'. A list follows, describing the objects collected; this appears as part of item 1: 'One set of string musical instruments ( ADUNGU ) in four different sizes. From the 'self-settled' refugee area of Panyume (Yei River District, near Ugandan border). Made from wood, goat skin and nylon thread, the skin and wood having been soaked in a river for about 4 days. These would be played as a band together with a large bass, and other more improvised instruments such as plastic bowls for drums and 2 tin lids mounted on a stand as cymbals. These particular ADUNGUS were specially made for us by one student and his brothers who all walked about 40 miles with them to sell them to us' [RTS 6/1/2004].
Additional accession book entry [p. 68, under accession number, in red biro] - A11-F16-1, 2, 9, 10.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 28/1/2004].
Related Documents File - 1985.24, a typed document headed 'Lutaya Expedition to Yei River District, Equatoria, Sudan July-September 1984. Subheading: 'Third world First Society, Oxford University. A seven-member research and support expedition to settlements for Ugandan refugees from West Nile Province, Uganda'. A list follows, describing the objects collected; this appears as part of item 1: 'One set of string musical instruments ( ADUNGU ) in four different sizes. From the 'self-settled' refugee area of Panyume (Yei River District, near Ugandan border). Made from wood, goat skin and nylon thread, the skin and wood having been soaked in a river for about 4 days. These would be played as a band together with a large bass, and other more improvised instruments such as plastic bowls for drums and 2 tin lids mounted on a stand as cymbals. These particular ADUNGUS were specially made for us by one student and his brothers who all walked about 40 miles with them to sell them to us' [RTS 6/1/2004].
