Nyatiti

Historically, strings were fashioned from cattle tendons, but modern players almost exclusively use nylon and plastic fishing line of various sizes, a move which changed the sound of the nyatiti drastically.

Though the register will vary to match a comfortable singing range of the player, a typical tuning will be, from top to bottom, B-A-G#-E-E-D-B-A, where the outside strings are the same note at the same pitch, and the middle two are an octave apart.

The most common playing style uses the thumb and middle finger of both hands, alternating between the two to create a rhythmic and circular musical pattern.

The player wears a wrought iron ring called the oduong'o around the big toe of the right foot and the gara, a set of metal bells also on the right leg.

Dancers sometimes accompany the nyatiti player and wear brightly colored skirts called Owalo, which are fashionably made out of sisal fibers.