Description: The ndeng-ndeng is a raft zither who is played amongst the Angas people in Nigeria. The ndeng-ndeng is played facing away from the body when sitting. It is also played by plucking with the fingers only and not the thumb. The term "raft zither" is a family of instrument in who are classified as raft zither because they resemble a raft in their construction. In the case of the ndeng-ndeng each individual string stripped from the same piece of bamboo which it came from and then wrapped around with rattan on both the string to increase sturdiness and also the volume when played. Rattan is used to hold the strings in place with the rest of the instrument. It is also the same material used to bind and secure the instrument together.

 

 

 

Citations: Sadie Stanley -New Grove Dictionary of Music book G to O page - 753.