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Source Description
The <em>endingidi</em> is a single-stringed chordophone musical instrument. Scholars believe it was introduced into the Kingdom of Buganda (in present-day Uganda) between 1904 and 1907. From Uganda, it was later introduced to present-day Rwanda, where it is called <em>iningidi</em> and played by Hutu musicians. Horsehair stretched from the end of the handle and over the reptile-skin–covered tube sound box, and attached to the handle with the wooden tuning peg. A deeply curved bow, now missing, would have allowed a male musician to play the instrument as he held it vertically. Still played today, the music of the endingidi is often heard at weddings or played by royal Bugandan court musicians.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
110822
label
Spike fiddle (endingidi or iningidi)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
110822
contentType
object
title
Spike fiddle (endingidi or iningidi)
description
The <em>endingidi</em> is a single-stringed chordophone musical instrument. Scholars believe it was introduced into the Kingdom of Buganda (in present-day Uganda) between 1904 and 1907. From Uganda, it was later introduced to present-day Rwanda, where it is called <em>iningidi</em> and played by Hutu musicians. Horsehair stretched from the end of the handle and over the reptile-skin–covered tube sound box, and attached to the handle with the wooden tuning peg. A deeply curved bow, now missing, would have allowed a male musician to play the instrument as he held it vertically. Still played today, the music of the endingidi is often heard at weddings or played by royal Bugandan court musicians.
date
1900s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q80002939
genreSpecific
Musical Instrument
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Diameter: 10.2 cm (4 in.); Overall: 44.2 cm (17 3/8 in.)
cul
Eastern Africa, Uganda or Rwanda-Burundi, unknown maker
accession
1929.347
Source extras
tec
Wood, snakeskin, and plant fiber
tombstone
Spike fiddle (endingidi or iningidi), 1900s. Eastern Africa, Uganda or Rwanda-Burundi, unknown maker. Wood, snakeskin, and plant fiber; diameter: 10.2 cm (4 in.); overall: 44.2 cm (17 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of the African Art Sponsors of Karamu House, 1929.347
collection
African Art
didYouKnow
A photograph taken around 1929 shows that this instrument once had a tassle of long, black animal hair attached to the handle. This tassel beautified the instrument and gave it a dignified "clothed" presence when played at the Bugandan court.
creditline
Gift of the African Art Sponsors of Karamu House
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:52:41.736000
sourceId
110822
dept
African Art
coll
African Art
med
Wood, snakeskin, and plant fiber
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
eb84c37795b59cd1