Our adungus are Fair Trade. Collective Awakening supports a local family in Uganda with the purchase of these instruments. We also are the only distributor of adungus in North America. The adungu is an arched bow harp made of wood and cowhide. It is traditionally played by the Acholi and the Alur people of Northern Uganda. The soundbox is carved from a single piece of wood into a rectangular box without a top. The bottom and top are covered with cow skin and handsewn together on the sides with thread also made of cow skin. Two small incisions are made in the skin at each end of the soundbox and a thin piece of wood is slid underneath the skin to provide a reinforced spine. Small holes are punched into the skin and strings are inserted into them. They are attached to small dowels under the reinforced spine and to the tuning pegs lining the wooden neck that protrudes from the soundbox. The adungu 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 adungus are not tourist items, but of highly professional quality and playable. They come tuned to G major, and can be tuned to any major or minor scale. There are two upgrades available: 1.) For an additional $75 we will upgrade the tuning peg system. We will plug the orginal holes and machine drill new holes, then we will machine match the pegs to create a perfect friction based tuning system. This is the same type of tuning system used with the violin and cello. This upgrade is essential for those who are serious about learning and wish to play this instrument on a regular basis. 2. For an additional $50.00 we will attach a small pickup to your adungu so it can be played through an amplifier (amplifier not included).
In addition to being a traditional music instrument, the adungu is also an excellent conversation piece and a beautiful work of art that can add an exotic flavor to the decor of your home.
For more information about our purchasing adungus, contact Martin via email or call 520-245-4547. You may set up a Skype call to see and hear each adungu before purchase.
Learn to Play the Adungu A guide to learning the adungu. Whether you are familiar with Western musical notation or not, this book will provide you with pratical lesson, exercises and songs that will get you playing the adungu in no time. Also included are facts about Uganda, music within the cultural context of the Acholi and Alur people, and excerpts from Marin Klabunde's new book Music is Medicine.
Size: See chart below. Cost: $150.00 $250.00 with tuning peg/neck upgrade
$325.00 with pickup and tuning peg/neck upgrade
Medium Adungu
Size: See chart below. Cost: $250.00 $350.00 with tuning peg/neck upgrade
$425.00 with pickup and tuning peg/neck upgrade
Large Adungu
Size: See chart below. Cost: $350 $450.00 with tuning peg/neck upgrade
$525.00 with pickup and tuning peg/neck upgrade
For more information about our purchasing adungus, contact Martin via email or call 520-245-4547. You may set up a Skype call to see and hear each adungu before purchase.
