Uhadi musical bow

One of the early choices of wood in making the stave or ‘injikwe’ in isiXhosa were from a tree called the ‘umbangandlela’.

It was later made by a bush called ‘uliza’ which grows in abundance on the mountainsides of the Eastern Cape in South Africa.

[2] Before the 20th century, the string or ‘usinga’ in isiXhosa was originally made from a length of animal gut or hair.

Artists of the 20th century like Nofinishi Dywili made bowstrings from the twisted wires of the bangles that the women wore on their ankles.

After the guard has dried out two small holes are made in the center of the gourd, in the area directly opposite the opening in it.

To make the insulating pad, a piece of soft cloth is folded into a square shape.

The player usually adjusts their clothing so that the gourd opening faces, and comes into contact with the bare flesh on or above the breast.