| Mesenqo | |
| Image Capt: | A traditional Ethiopian masinko or chira-wata |
| Background: | string |
| Classification: | chordophone |
| Hornbostel Sachs: | 321.311 |
| Hornbostel Sachs Desc: | spike bowed lute |
| Related: | |
The masenqo (am|ማሲንቆ; Tigrinya: ጭራ-ዋጣ (ዋጣ), also known as masinko, is a single-stringed bowed lute commonly found in the musical traditions of Eritrea and Ethiopia.[1] As with the krar, this instrument is used by Ethiopian minstrels called azmaris ("singer" in Amharic).[2] Although it functions in a purely accompaniment capacity in songs, the masenqo requires considerable virtuosity, as azmaris accompany themselves while singing.
The square or diamond-shaped resonator is made of four small wooden boards glued together, then covered with a stretched parchment or rawhide. The single string is typically made of horse hair, and passes over a bridge. The instrument is tuned by means of a large tuning peg to fit the range of the singer's voice.[3] It may be bowed by either the right or left hand, and the non-bow hand sits lightly on top of the upper part of the string.