Ulrich Wegner (1984) divides the East African shell zithers into five groups according to their shape.

[3] The inanga of the intermediate lake area with a wide, flat bowl shape and low edges belongs to type A.

[3] The ligombo of type B is characterized by a very narrow, flat shape that tapers towards the middle of the sides.

[3] A shorter version of the ligombo with seven strings among the Safwa who live in the territory of the Sangu in the Mbeya Region is called sumbi.

[3][5] Type D is again long and narrow, but has a flat bottom and straight side walls at right angles to it.

Its distribution area is along the east coast with the Zaramo and Kwere in the Pwani Region and further south with the Makonde.

[3] Among the Makonde and Nguru (Ngulu) speakers in eastern central Tanzania, the type E with a wide rectangular bowl shape and a flat bottom was also observed.

[8] He has also been taped laying the instrument flat on a table, reaching across with both hands from the top, plucking the strings.

[12][11] The body or bowl of the instrument may be a shallow platter, like the Inanga; however can also be large and deep enough to be a baby's cradle.

For example Ngombi can refer either to a Zande trough zither or to a harp (by the Pygmies, Mbaka, Isongo, Ngbaka, Mitshogho and Fang), a lamellaphone by the Gbandi, or a slit drum by the Boa.

The instrument was associated with "a wide range of oral literature genres," sung by professional singers at royal courts in Uganda.

After Tanzania's independence, and kings were abolished, patronage to the bards has ceased, and in 1983 it appeared the profession was dying out.

Besides the enangas (epic poetry), singers sang ballads and ebizina songs for the common people.

[20] Burundi[15] Democratic Republic of the Congo[21][17] Rwanda[15] Tanzania[22] Uganda Democratic Republic of the Congo[17] Uganda Inanga are decorated with burnt-in geometric motifs on the sides and cross-shaped incisions in the middle of the base.

The inanga is the most famous musical instrument of Burundi and is also widespread in the surrounding areas - in Rwanda, in the Kivu region in eastern Congo and in the south of Lake Victoria on the island of Ukerewe.

The different tensions of the individual strings is maintained by frictional resistance on the narrow loops leading through two holes.