Our endongos are Fair Trade. Collective Awakening supports a local family in Uganda with the purchase of these instruments. We also are the only distributor of endongos in North America. The endongo is an bow lyre made of wood and monitor lizard skin. It is traditionally played by the Acholi and the Baganda people of Central Uganda. The soundbox is carved from a single piece of wood into a bowl shape with a monitor lizard skin covering the top. The bottom is covered with cow skin and handsewn to the monitor lizard skin on the sides with thread also made of cow skin. The endongo is a versatile instrument. It is simple enough that a novice may play it with limited or no musical background and yet a master can make it sound as if there were two or three people playing at the same time. Our endongos are not tourist items, but of highly professional quality and playable. They come tuned to G major, and can be tuned to any pentatonic scale. There is one upgrade available: For an additional $75.00 we will attach a small pickup to your endongo so it can be played through an amplifier (amplifier not included).
In addition to being a traditional music instrument, the endongo is also an excellent conversation piece and a beautiful work of art that can add an exotic flavor to the decor of your home.
Cost: $500 $575 with pickup installed
For more information about purchasing an endongo,contact Martin via email or call 520-245-4547. You may set up a Skype call to see and hear each endongo before purchase.
