The Banjo

This past December I received a banjo as a gift. Her name is Betty :). While I'm not the most experienced banjo player, I love playing the instrument and enjoy learning more about its development and history. 

Contrary to popular belief, the banjo is not a North American instrument. The banjo is often claimed to be wholly American. However, like the ukulele, the banjo was developed from foreign instruments brought to the United States. While the banjo is commonly used in folk and bluegrass music, the banjo, like people, originates from Africa. Slaves brought instruments like the ngoni, konou, and the akonting, or rebuilt them when they were taken to the Caribbean. 

Many of these African gourd lute instruments were made out of a gourd and could have any number of strings. In the Caribbean, the banjar, or banza, was also made out of a gourd and covered in animal skin. This instrument traveled to America, where the modern banjo developed and was produced in factories. 

Until this point, around the 1840s, the banjo was considered a black or slave instrument. However, once the banjo was available to be purchased, white people began to play it more. The banjo traveled to many different places like Ireland and Appalachia. This is where the banjo's origin gets mistaken for being an Irish, Appalachian, or Southern instrument. 

We must educate ourselves and give credit where credit is due. The banjo originates from Africa. I suggest listening to the band Carolina Chocolate Drops, who won a grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album, to hear the modern banjo, in traditional action. 

Thanks for yielding!

until next time,

Alexis