Hordu or Fula Guitar

The hordu is commonly known as the Fula (Foulah) Guitar. It has a boat-shaped body (the sound box) covered with skin, a stick (the neck) which partly overlaps with the body, and a number of strings which are plucked with the fingers. The body has a sound hole, over which a bridge is fixed on the stick. One end of the strings is attached to this bridge, the other end to the stick beyond the body, by means of leather strips that can be moved along the stick to get the correct tuning of the strings. The player uses his fingers not only to pluck the strings but also to knock the body. The Sierra Leone National Museum accession register notes that it originally had a tin rattle attached to the top.

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Further Information

  • Type: Musical instruments
  • Object: Hordu or Fula Guitar
  • Materials: Metal, Wood, Leather, animal skin
  • Culture Group: Fula
  • Dimensions: Unknown
  • Production Date: Pre 1970
  • Associated Places: Lunsar Village
  • Associated People: Mr. Umara Jalloh, Lunsar Village (Trader)
  • Museum: Sierra Leone National Museum
  • Accession Number: SLNM.1970.04.01

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