Nigeria
Hausa

Wood, Leather Straps, Animal Hide
ca. Mid-20th century
Length: 25 inches
Chordophone – Half-spiked Lute

‘Molo’ is a general name given to the lutes by the Hausa people of Niger and northern Nigeria and the Songhay people of Niger.  These lutes were  used for a religious ceremony, the ‘Bori spirit possession cult.’  Today it is also used for entertainment and to accompany ‘praise singing.’ 

Multi stringed harps are found among different people living in the West Atlantic region.  They share a similar shape of an elongated boat-shaped body or soundbox, carved from wood and a round dowel for a neck. The soundbox has an open top, covered by goatskin or duiker hide.  Strings are attached to the neck by wrapping them around the slender (dowel) neck and binding them with cords.

Elizabeth Bennett of Africa Direct wrote: This was collected by a Denver sea captain traveling in Nigeria, in the early 1940s.  Made by the Hausa people.