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Um Kiki: Sudan’s Most Industrialized Instrument
Um Kiki is a stringed instrument found in many Arab and African countries. In Algeria, it is called Amzad and is traditionally played only by women. In Burundi, it is known as Andonongo, in Ethiopia as Masengo, in most Gulf countries it is known as the Arabic Rabab, and in Kenya as Urutu.
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Um Kiki is a stringed instrument found in many Arab and African countries. In Algeria, it is called Amzad and is traditionally played only by women. In Burundi, it is known as Andonongo, in Ethiopia as Masengo, in most Gulf countries it is known as the Arabic Rabab, and in Kenya as Urutu. In western Sudan, it is widely used among the Baggara tribes.
Um Kiki is a bowed instrument, meaning it produces sound by means of a bow. This bow is passed over a single string of hair taken from a horse's tail. This instrument’s deep-rooted connection to the Baggara people reflects their cultural and environmental landscape. Among these tribes, horses and cows are inseparable; it is a commonly held belief that "there are no cows without a horse"—as only a horse can track a lost cow. The use of Um Kiki in their music further illustrates how musical instruments are intrinsically linked to the environment and daily life of the people who play them.
In western Sudan, the Um Kiki player is also its maker. Crafting the instrument begins with preparing the Monitor lizard’s skin, the most crucial part, as it determines the beauty of its sound (according to the auditory perception of the maker). The maker often finds a suitable lizard while tending to his cows and skins it carefully in order to avoid making any holes. The skin is then left to dry while he searches for the perfect gourd to serve as the instrument's body.
While he takes a break along his route, the maker assembles the instrument by cutting the gourd in half and stretching the dried skin over one of the halves. He then inserts the neck of the instrument and allows it to dry for a day or two. During this time, he prepares the bowstring and bow, selecting the longest strands from a horse’s tail. He carefully cuts between 10 to 15 strands for both the bowstring and the bow itself. Once the skin on the gourd has fully dried, he fastens the bowstring with a string tied to both ends of the instrument’s neck, the strings are slightly elevated from the instrument body with two pieces of gourd called the donky. One of which is placed on the surface of the skin to amplify the sound coming from the string, and the other is fixed at the top of the neck thus completing the assembly of the Um Kiki.
The bow is covered over with Gum Arabic (kaakul) taken from the Hashab trees, which are commonly found in the region, to make the threads into one string. The sound notes are changed by pressing down the string at the top of the neck. The Um Kiki is often played while seated, with the player resting the instrument on their thighs, holding the bow with one hand, and altering pitches with the other.
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Haddai: The Voice of the People
In western Sudan, a Haddai is a man with a significant social role who is a powerful form of popular media. He travels between villages, delivering news, offering praise, and honouring individuals of his choosing. This role of popular media is carried out by figures such as Al-Haddai, Al-Bushani, Al-Barmaki, and Al-Muqai.
The Haddai plays the Um Kiki while seated in a gathering space known as Al-Darra—a traditional place of hospitality in Sudanese villages. Men gather around him, seeking wisdom from his poetry and staying informed about current events.
In his poetic performances, the Haddai uses a technique called Al-Rabqi, delivering long, rhyming verses known as Al-Majdoula, which shift in rhyme throughout the performance. His style incorporates half-tone melodies, linking his art to Arabic traditions, particularly the musical scale of 7 notes.
Um Kiki is a stringed instrument found in many Arab and African countries. In Algeria, it is called Amzad and is traditionally played only by women. In Burundi, it is known as Andonongo, in Ethiopia as Masengo, in most Gulf countries it is known as the Arabic Rabab, and in Kenya as Urutu. In western Sudan, it is widely used among the Baggara tribes.
Um Kiki is a bowed instrument, meaning it produces sound by means of a bow. This bow is passed over a single string of hair taken from a horse's tail. This instrument’s deep-rooted connection to the Baggara people reflects their cultural and environmental landscape. Among these tribes, horses and cows are inseparable; it is a commonly held belief that "there are no cows without a horse"—as only a horse can track a lost cow. The use of Um Kiki in their music further illustrates how musical instruments are intrinsically linked to the environment and daily life of the people who play them.
In western Sudan, the Um Kiki player is also its maker. Crafting the instrument begins with preparing the Monitor lizard’s skin, the most crucial part, as it determines the beauty of its sound (according to the auditory perception of the maker). The maker often finds a suitable lizard while tending to his cows and skins it carefully in order to avoid making any holes. The skin is then left to dry while he searches for the perfect gourd to serve as the instrument's body.
While he takes a break along his route, the maker assembles the instrument by cutting the gourd in half and stretching the dried skin over one of the halves. He then inserts the neck of the instrument and allows it to dry for a day or two. During this time, he prepares the bowstring and bow, selecting the longest strands from a horse’s tail. He carefully cuts between 10 to 15 strands for both the bowstring and the bow itself. Once the skin on the gourd has fully dried, he fastens the bowstring with a string tied to both ends of the instrument’s neck, the strings are slightly elevated from the instrument body with two pieces of gourd called the donky. One of which is placed on the surface of the skin to amplify the sound coming from the string, and the other is fixed at the top of the neck thus completing the assembly of the Um Kiki.
The bow is covered over with Gum Arabic (kaakul) taken from the Hashab trees, which are commonly found in the region, to make the threads into one string. The sound notes are changed by pressing down the string at the top of the neck. The Um Kiki is often played while seated, with the player resting the instrument on their thighs, holding the bow with one hand, and altering pitches with the other.
Haddai: The Voice of the People
In western Sudan, a Haddai is a man with a significant social role who is a powerful form of popular media. He travels between villages, delivering news, offering praise, and honouring individuals of his choosing. This role of popular media is carried out by figures such as Al-Haddai, Al-Bushani, Al-Barmaki, and Al-Muqai.
The Haddai plays the Um Kiki while seated in a gathering space known as Al-Darra—a traditional place of hospitality in Sudanese villages. Men gather around him, seeking wisdom from his poetry and staying informed about current events.
In his poetic performances, the Haddai uses a technique called Al-Rabqi, delivering long, rhyming verses known as Al-Majdoula, which shift in rhyme throughout the performance. His style incorporates half-tone melodies, linking his art to Arabic traditions, particularly the musical scale of 7 notes.
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