The gurmi is a two or three-stringed lute of the

Hausa people The Hausa (Endonym, autonyms for singular: Bahaushe (male, m), Bahaushiya (female, f); plural: Hausawa and general: Hausa; exonyms: Ausa; Ajami script, Ajami: ) are a native ethnic group in West Africa. They speak the Hausa language, which is the ...

of northern Nigeria. May also be called ''gurumi'' or ''kumbo''. In looking at the two-finger playing style used by musicians who play the gumbri, researchers have listed it as a possible relative to the banjo. Researchers have talked about the ''gurmi'' and ''gurumi'' as if these are two different but similar instruments. The instrument is also played by

Toubou people The Toubou or Tubu (from Old Tebu, meaning "rock people") are an ethnic group native to the Tibesti Mountains that inhabit the central Sahara in northern Chad, southern Libya, northeastern Niger, and northwestern Sudan. They live either as her ...

and "other peoples of Niger and northern Nigeria."

Details

It has a soundbox made from a half calabash or gourd, the opening covered with hide for a soundboard. The neck pierces the calabash, its end poking out the bottom of the instrument. Strings are secured to the stump of stick at the bottom and run across a bridge on the hide soundboard to the neck. The strings are secured to the neck by tying them to tuning rings, separate strings or bands tied around the neck. While a member of the

xalam Xalam (in Serer, khalam in Wolof, and Mɔɣlo in Dagbanli) is a traditional lute from West Africa with 1 to 5 strings. The xalam is commonly played in Mali, Gambia, Senegal, Niger, Northern Nigeria, Northern Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mauritania ...

family of instruments, the gurmi is specific to the Hausa people. Unlike the xalam, with its oval shaped soundbox, the gurmi's soundbox is round (the shape of the gourd which is its body). They have a rounded dowel neck. The instrument has been traditionally played by Hausa men to make songs that praise wrestlers. It may be played as a solo instrument or accompany singing.

Variations and relatives

Researchers have paired the gurmi with a number of African lutes, many with names that may be related to the name ''gurmi''. The instruments are "full-spike lutes" meaning that the neck goes all the way through the instrument, poking through both sides of the gourd or calabash resonator. Another alternative, separating these from other African lutes is the "semi-spike lutes" such as the

, in which the end of the neck pokes out through the soundboard (instead of out through the side of the gourd) and acts as a bridge. These full-spike lutes include: *Gambare.

Soninke people The Soninke (Sarakolleh) people are a West African Mande languages, Mande-speaking ethnic group found in Mali, southern Mauritania, eastern Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea (especially Fouta Djallon). They speak the Soninke language, also called ...

of Mali. *Gullum.

Kilba people The Kilba people (also called Həba) are an ethnic group in the Hong local government area of Adamawa State (formerly Gongola State) in Nigeria. History In the past, Həba lived in large clan-based mountain communities. These mountain commun ...

, Nigeria. 3 strings, round calabash soundbox, soundhole in side, a bridge that is hollow and "contains seeds". Used at death ceremonies. *Gulum, gulom.

Kotoko people The Kotoko people, also called Mser, Moria, Bara and Makari, are a Chadic ethnic group located in northern Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria.Chad Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North Africa, North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to Chad–Libya border, the north, Sudan to Chad–Sudan border, the east, the Central Afric ...

Cameroon Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the R ...

. 3 strings, "hemispherical" calabash soundbox, covered with cowhide, laced to instrument with strips on instrument's back. Horsehair/nylon strings. * Gumbri, Guinbri. Lute played by Gnawa people (descendants of West Africans brought north to Morocco as slaves). *Gurumi. Dosso people of Niger.

Mauri people Mauri (from which derives the English term "Moors") was the Latin designation for the Berber population of Mauretania, located in the west side of North Africa on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, Mauretania Tingitana and Mauretania Caesarien ...

, southern Chad. *Gurumi.

. Niger. 2 strings, calabash soundbox. *Gurumi.

. Nigeria. 2 strings, calabash soundbox. *Kambre.

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered to the southeast by Liberia and by Guinea to the north. Sierra Leone's land area is . It has a tropical climate and envi ...

. *Kubru.

Timbuktu Timbuktu ( ; ; Koyra Chiini: ; ) is an ancient city in Mali, situated north of the Niger River. It is the capital of the Tombouctou Region, one of the eight administrative regions of Mali, having a population of 32,460 in the 2018 census. ...

, Mali. 3 strings, plucked. Boat shaped soundbox, "metal-ringed jingle". Paired with ''diarka'' one-stringed fiddle. *Ngùlǎn. Bana people. Cameroon. 3 strings, calabash or gourd soundbox in bowl shape. File:Malam Maman Barka.jpg, Malam Maman Barka of the Toubou people, playing an Ngurumi. File:Écontine.jpg, Econtine, Diola people, in

Casamance Casamance is the area of Senegal south of the Gambia, including the Casamance River. It consists of the Lower Casamance (, —i.e. Ziguinchor Region) and the Upper Casamance (, —i.e. Kolda and Sédhiou Regions). The largest city of Casamance ...

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

References

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External links

Interview with Hausa musician who plays Gurmi; has photoVideo of Salamatu Mai Gurmi playing the Gurmi.
Spike lutes Drumhead lutes Nigerian musical instruments Hausa musical instruments West African musical instruments