Instruments

Lira
Photo: Cherie Nutting

Ghaita

A double reed horn with a series of holes, made of apricot wood in Ouezanne, a town in Northern Morocco. Sometimes called the Arabic oboe, variations of the Ghaita can be found in other parts of the world such as Persia, India, and China.

Tebel

A double skinned drum made in a variety of sizes. Drumheads are made with goatskin and played with both sticks and hands.

Djarbouga

A small ceramic drum with a snare. It has a strong sound for its size.

Bendir

A large shallow drum with a snare, common in North Africa.

Gimbri

A bowl back styled rustic lute with a goatskin top. It has four strings traditionally made from goat intestines but now often strung with nylon strings. The instrument is usually played with a long curved pick, which adds the attack and texture of the sound.

Lira

A common bamboo flute, recorder-like, made in Jajouka.

Kamanja

A violin, played upright on the knee typically played with the Gimbri, drums and vocals.