Masenqo
A traditional Ethiopian masinko or chira-wata | |
| String instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | chordophone |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 321.311 (spike bowed lute) |
| Related instruments | |
The masenqo (Amharic: ማሲንቆ; Tigrinya: ጭራ-ዋጣ (ዋጣ), also known as masinko or mesenko, is a single-stringed bowed lute commonly found in the musical traditions of Eritrea and Ethiopia. As with the krar, this instrument is used by Ethiopian minstrels called azmaris ("singer" in Amharic) . Although it functions in a purely accompaniment capacity in songs, the masenqo requires considerable virtuosity, as azmaris accompany themselves while singing.