Southern Niger and Northern Nigeria
Hausa

Wood, metal, leather/hide, reed, string
Mid-20th Century 
Length: 17.5 inches; Bell diameter: 2.5 inches
Aerophones – Wind Instruments Proper – Reedpipes

The algaita (also spelled alghaita, algayta or algheita) is a double-reed aerophone found in West Africa.  It is a native instrument to the Hausa and Kanuri people in Nigeria.  The algaita is made of wood covered in leather and unlike the rhaita and the zurna, has a larger and distinctive bell shape at the bottom.  There are four finger holes; the top hole is played with the right index finger and the three remaining holes are played with the first three fingers of the left hand.  At the top just below the double reed located on a brass mouthpipe is the pirouette.  The pirouette is a disc, where the lips are pressed up against, when the reeds are in the mouth. A method called ‘circular breathing’ where you continuously blow while breathing in air through the nose is sometimes used. Its pitch range extends to less than an octave to up to two octaves and it is very loud.  This instrument can also be found in other regions of West Africa.  It is used in many types of celebration ceremonies. I have read some reports that indicate the algaita was developed by the Fulani people of West Africa round the 14^th century.