Ngoni

This is an half-spike lute in which the neck does not extend all the way through the body of the instrument, but stops inside the resonator. The long, slightly waisted canoe-shaped resonator body is carved from a single block of wood and is covered with animal skin, pinned to the body with wooden pegs. The cylindrical neck pierces the top of the soundtable and terminates at the soundhole, where the strings are tied along with the bridge. The top of the neck has a small metal spike (iron alloy) probably for hanging decorative elements. The strings are attached to the neck with adjustable leather hoops/strips (four in total; only two broken strings of dark fibers still remain). The wooden bridge (currently disassembled) is inserted into the lower end of the neck, and held in place with the strings that pass over and loop the end of the neck just below. There is a strap of woven fabric and canvas cloth attached to the body, at the edge of the soundtable.