18.5" Carved Bamboo Valiha Tube Zither W/ Metal Strings Madagascar EXC CONDITION

This handmade traditional Malagasy (Madagascar) Valiha tube zither is made from a local species of bamboo, and is considered the “national instrument” of Madagascar and a symbol of its national unity. This relatively petit instrument has 16 wire strings and is about 18.5” long. It has adjustable tuning pads. The tube of the instrument is covered with shallow carvings of the words "Nosy Be" (a Madagascar island),!a bull, a face as well as Madagascar’s iconic lemur and a variety of trees.


This Valiha zither is a rare find for string instrument enthusiasts.


Under the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, the Madagascar Valiha is classified as a whole tube zither stringed instrument because the tube functions as both the neck and the soundbox simultaneously. The delicate strings are plucked from the instrument’s bamboo tube. Known for its rich and unique sound, the Valiha is a distinctive musical instrument that holds cultural significance.