The bolon (bow-LONE, also nbolon) is a traditional Mande harp consisting of a large open-top gourd covered with skin, fretless neck, bridge, and 3-4 tunable strings. This instrument is lower pitched than the other West African harps like the ngoni or kora, and is said to have association with the warrior class. Each bolon is hand made in Mali or Guinea using traditional methods, is covered by our satisfaction guarantee, and features:
- Large, thick calabash gourd, 16-18" diameter, with bass hole
- Thick goat or calf skin stretched over top, fastened with decorative tacks or stitching
- Curved, fretless neck extending from end of gourd 32-38", may have resonator attached
- Hardwood bridge with anchor hold 3-4 leather strings in place
- Tuning by sliding strings up or down the neck
- Hand crafted in Mali or Guinea using traditional methods and quality materials
- Imported, African-made product from Africa Heartwood Project
Learn more about this instrument in the book
Mande Music by Eric Charry. |
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