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The symmetrical lyre with five strings is very common in the Horn of Africa and in particular in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Kenya. Amongst those present in the exhibition, this one comes from NAGFA (Eritrea). It has a wooden soundbox which is fairly large and carved from a single block of wood. The harmonic surface consists of a parchment, stretched and fixed to the edge of the soundbox. The two characteristic wooden arms - shorter than in other versions of the LYRE - are fixed under the hide through special holes; a yoke with a slightly shaped profile is mortised at the ends. The strings are kept taut by a tailpiece and run to the yoke where they are tied with the characteristic "lever" system. In Eritrea, the LYRE is played holding the soundbox resting on the chest and plucked with one hand, whilst the other, (which holds the instrument) touches the strings.
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