Kologo

The Kologo is a traditional two-stringed lute played by the Frafra (Gurune) people or Northern Ghana and parts of southern Burkina Faso. It is one of the best known indigenous string instruments of northern Ghana and is used in accompanying singing, storytelling, praise songs, dances, and social ceremonies. The instrument is played by plucking or strumming its strings while the performer sings, often using repetitive rhythmic patterns. It belongs to a wider family of West African lutes that includes the xalam, hoddu, ngoni, and kontigi. Although these instruments share similar construction, they differ in musical traditions, playing styles, and local names.