Malunga
Encyclopedia
The malunga is a single-stringed musical bow
played by the Siddi
of India
, who are the descendants of East Africa
n immigrants. It produces two tones, an octave
apart, and the knuckle of the hand supporting the instrument may also presses against the string to vary the pitch. It is struck with a stick and, as with the berimbau
of Brazil, the hand holding the stick also holds a rattle (in the case of the malunga the rattle, called mai misra. The malunga has a gourd resonator which amplifies the instrument's sound. The placement of this rattle along the string also varies the pitch produced by the Malunga.
, an extremely discrimated against peoples in India
. This instrument is one of the few that are still in existence that can be played, though its scarcity is growing.
are a vital part of their cultural identity and music plays a large role in these practices. Recently, a documentary was made about the Malunga and its importance to the Siddi
. The message from this documentary was the rate at which these religious instruments are dying out; many of those able to play are elderly and disabled. The film crew sought to keep the cultural practice alive and implemented a camp for the new generation to learn to play the Malunga. The camp consisted of making the actual instrument, learning to play it, and learning to play it in the context of religious practice. The film can be viewed here: *Malunga Documentary
Musical bow
The musical bow is a simple string musical instrument most archaic cultures as well as in many in the present day. It consisting of a string supported by a flexible stick 1.5 to 10 feet long, and strung end to end with a taut cord. Usually made out of wood...
played by the Siddi
Siddi
The Siddi, Siddhi, or Sheedi , also known as Habshi, are an Indian and Pakistani ethnic group of Afro-Arab and/or Black African descent. The Siddi population is currently estimated to be 20,000–55,000, with Gujarat and Hyderabad in India the main population centre. Siddis are mainly Sufi Muslims,...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, who are the descendants of East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
n immigrants. It produces two tones, an octave
Octave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
apart, and the knuckle of the hand supporting the instrument may also presses against the string to vary the pitch. It is struck with a stick and, as with the berimbau
Berimbau
The berimbau is a single-string percussion instrument, a musical bow, from Brazil. The berimbau's origins are not entirely clear, but there is not much doubt about its African origin, as no Indigenous Brazilian or European people use musical bows, and very similar instruments are played in the...
of Brazil, the hand holding the stick also holds a rattle (in the case of the malunga the rattle, called mai misra. The malunga has a gourd resonator which amplifies the instrument's sound. The placement of this rattle along the string also varies the pitch produced by the Malunga.
Construction of The Instrument
The bow is of solid-core Bamboo cane and the string is made of three twisted strands of gut. The gourd resonator is made from a coconut shell and is a mobile part of the instrument.Cultural Importance
The Malunga is one of the instruments that is used in the religious practices of the SiddiSiddi
The Siddi, Siddhi, or Sheedi , also known as Habshi, are an Indian and Pakistani ethnic group of Afro-Arab and/or Black African descent. The Siddi population is currently estimated to be 20,000–55,000, with Gujarat and Hyderabad in India the main population centre. Siddis are mainly Sufi Muslims,...
, an extremely discrimated against peoples in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. This instrument is one of the few that are still in existence that can be played, though its scarcity is growing.
Attempt to Save Malunga
The religious practices of the SiddiSiddi
The Siddi, Siddhi, or Sheedi , also known as Habshi, are an Indian and Pakistani ethnic group of Afro-Arab and/or Black African descent. The Siddi population is currently estimated to be 20,000–55,000, with Gujarat and Hyderabad in India the main population centre. Siddis are mainly Sufi Muslims,...
are a vital part of their cultural identity and music plays a large role in these practices. Recently, a documentary was made about the Malunga and its importance to the Siddi
Siddi
The Siddi, Siddhi, or Sheedi , also known as Habshi, are an Indian and Pakistani ethnic group of Afro-Arab and/or Black African descent. The Siddi population is currently estimated to be 20,000–55,000, with Gujarat and Hyderabad in India the main population centre. Siddis are mainly Sufi Muslims,...
. The message from this documentary was the rate at which these religious instruments are dying out; many of those able to play are elderly and disabled. The film crew sought to keep the cultural practice alive and implemented a camp for the new generation to learn to play the Malunga. The camp consisted of making the actual instrument, learning to play it, and learning to play it in the context of religious practice. The film can be viewed here: *Malunga Documentary