Jeli Bass N’goni

This Jeli N’Goni is hand made in Mali, West Africa

Jeli N’goni (pronounced “jelly nn-gon-ee”) is a traditional Mande lute played by the jeli (griot: traditional musicians). The Jeli N’goni is one of the oldest instruments of the jeli, pre-dating the balafon and kora, and is considered the ancestor of the modern-day banjo

Constructed of a hollow Melina hardwood body covered with goat skin, a fretless fingerboard and three synthetic strings which traverse the bridge and are tensioned by leather straps.

Played with a picking technique using the thumb and index finger, accented with percussive knocking and tapping

As these instruments are hand made from natural materials dimensions may vary slightly