Malagasy Instruments

Kabosy Players Photo: J. Loader

- Kabosy: an instrument similar to guitar but with smaller size. There exist a wide variety of kabosy. The shapes, the number of strings, and the way of using it depend on the region and the band. However, in many cases, it has four strings.

- Sodina: a traditional flute made from bamboo or light wood. Sodina can be played solo or backed by other instruments.

- Valiha: a Malagasy zither with 10 to 19 strings and knots at distant intervals. It has many forms: round like a bamboo stick--called valiha toritenany, rectangle like a suitcase--called valiha vata, or ovale like a dugout canoe--called valiha lakana.

- Jejy voatavo: a stick zither that has a neck secured to a gourd. Strings are placed on two adjacent faces of the neck with frets on one face to tune the instruments.

- Taralila: a little hexagonal accordion like the one played by Johnny Clegg.

Sample Sound