Gyil
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The gyil is a pentatonic percussion instrument, common to Ghana, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire. It is the primary traditional musical instrument used by the Dagara, an African ethnic group.
The instrument is made with a wooden frame, calabash gourds with spider web silk covering small holes in the gourds to produce a buzzing sound, antelope sinew and leather for the fastenings and a red hardwood called liga for the keys.
The gyil is usually played in pairs, accompanied by a calabash gourd drum called a kuor. It can also be played by one person with the drum and the stick part as accompaniment, or by a soloist.
External links
- The Gyil (http://www.mandaramusic.com/gyil.html)
- Bernard Woma, noted gyil player and teacher (http://www.bernardwoma.com/)