Ngoni Band

Ngoni Band [Indigo Series] 16 x 14” Giclée Print on archival paper Signed & Numbered Limited Edition Print of 20 ©2010 Djibril N’Doye Since I was a child, I have always liked traditional music. The ngoni is a very historic musical instrument.  It’s a lute made with a gourd covered with goat skin. It has a narrow neck made from a narrow piece of a tree branch holding four strings. The ngoni has played an important role in most West African kingdoms since African medieval times. It is one of the traditional musical instruments still known by most of the younger, contemporary generation. My admiration goes to the Mandingue ethnicity. Since the internationally well-known, gifted ngoni player of Guinea passed away, most African musicians are drawn to western electric, electronic, and acoustic musical instruments. Historically, I wish that this beautiful instrument is preserved. While living in the USA, the first time I got an album of a ngoni band from Mali called “Ngoni Ba”, I felt mu