Hidden in the hills of Nigeria's Plateau State, a unique musical instrument had taken root and become part of the traditions of a people for nearly a century. The Kundung, a horn-resonated xylophone of the Berom people, represents not just musical innovation but a fusion of cultures and ingenious adaptation to local materials.

The Kundung's story begins with an unexpected cultural exchange. In the 1930s, migrant workers from Chad arrived in Jos, Nigeria, for tin mining operations following World War II. These Bagirmi people brought with them a xylophone that would eventually transform into the distinctive instrument now known as the Kundung.

What makes this historical event fascinating is how the instrument evolved to suit its new environment. The original Chadian design used calabash gourds and stamping tubes as resonators - materials that proved ill-suited to the cold, humid climate of the Jos Plateau. Moreover, the instrument's popularity in beer parlors meant it frequently suffered damage during rowdy gatherings.

The watershed moment in Kundung's evolution came in 1955 when a Berom musician named Dalyop Zongo made a revolutionary design change. Rather than continuing to use fragile calabash resonators, Zongo replaced them with cow horns—readily available and significantly more durable.

This innovation didn't just solve a practical problem; it transformed the instrument's sound. The horn resonators gave the Kundung a distinctive timbre that many listeners found more melodious and audible than both the original Chadian xylophone and Western variants. This adaptation represents an excellent example of indigenous technological innovation, combining practical problem-solving with musical enhancement.

The modern Kundung has several key components: Wooden slabs, Cow horn resonators, a Plank frame, a Bowed stick attachment, and Spider shield vibrators. The wooden slabs, made from seasoned mai-dubia wood, form the instrument keys arranged in a pentatonic scale. The carefully thinned cow horn resonators maximize vibration and sound projection while the plank frame provides structure to the entire instrument. The bowed stick attachment acts as the suspension or carrier for the player while being played and at the horn tips are the spider shield vibrators to create the instrument's characteristic buzzy timbre. Coal tar mixed with ash is applied to the cow horn tips to enhance the instrument's resonance.

The Kundung is tuned to an anhemitonic pentatonic scale - a five-note scale without semitones that creates its signature sound. What's remarkable is that Kundung makers tune their instruments entirely by ear, without modern tuning devices, yet achieve consistent intervallic relationships between different makers' instruments.

The Kundung is played as a solo instrument or in a duet format. When played by two musicians, the player handling the deeper tones carries the main melody while the player responsible for the higher notes improvises complementary patterns.

This versatility makes the Kundung suitable for various contexts, from ceremonial functions to social gatherings. Historically, the instrument gained popularity in beer parlors, where its melodious sounds attracted customers and enhanced sales.

For the Berom people, the Kundung is not merely a musical instrument but a cultural artifact embodying their approach to music-making. Like many African cultures, the Berom name their instruments according to the sounds they produce. "Kundung" mimics the sound made when two xylophone slabs are played in minor thirds - an onomatopoeic naming convention prevalent throughout Berom musical culture.

The Kundung xylophone represents far more than a musical curiosity but is a symbol of the Berom people's creative spirit and their ability to adapt outside influences to suit their cultural preferences and local materials.

The Kundung is a horn-resonated xylophone of the Berom people found in Jos, Nigeria.

Kundung: Xylophone of the Berom People

The Kundung is a horn-resonated xylophone of the Berom people found in Jos, Nigeria.

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