Riity Player Trio
21 x 15”, Original Woodburning with color pencil on Birch Panel
©2020 Djibril N’Doye
Riity is the name of these historic instruments that are shaped like a lute. The riity body is made out of a gourd. The neck and the arched bow are made from a tree branch. With strings made of horse tail hair, the riity is played like a violin and mostly known in West Africa in cattle herding communities who are used to nomadic life.
One of the reasons the riity is not more well-known in the contemporary African music industry is simply because of ‘city life versus country life’ where the musicians do not have to have electricity to play their music.
- Reproductions: Available
- Collections: Music and Dance