ugubu, noun

/ʊˈɡʊ(ː)bʊ/
Forms:
gubu, igubuShow more Also gubu, igubu, ugubhu.
Origin:
IsiZulu ugubhu.
A single-stringed Zulu musical bow with a gourd resonator.
1866 W.C. Holden Past & Future 271The only attempt at an instrument that I have seen is the gubu. This consists of a calabash attached to a bow with a string of buck’s skin: they beat the calabash with a rod, and it makes a monotonous, vibrating sound, without meaning or charm.
1906 E. Clairmonte Africander 189Their chief instrument, called a gubu, which is something like a one-string banjo with an empty gourd for a drum.
1925 D. Kidd Essential Kafir 333The chief instrument in general use (called an Igubu) is made from a long stick which is bent like a bow by a string; the stick is fastened to a round gourd; the gourd is placed on the breast, and acts as a sounding-board. When the string is struck with a piece of reed the instrument gives out a sort of ‘ting, ting, ting’ sound which is most monotonous.
1949 O. Walker Proud Zulu (1951) 59She carried an uGubu, a stringed bow with a calabash attached as a resonator, the calabash pressed against her slim shoulder, the stick used for striking the bow to produce a rhythmic accompaniment, held lightly in her other hand.
1971 Nat. Geog. Mag. Dec. 745 (caption)Visitor from the city makes himself at home, strumming an ugubu while his host’s wives prepare the evening meal.
1980 D.B. Coplan Urbanization of African Performing Arts. 72Gourd-resonated bows, such as the Zulu ugubu and its cognates..supply bass ostinato while leaving the performer’s mouth free for solo vocalization.
1984 Daily Dispatch 29 June 11The Zulu gourd-bow ‘ugubhu’..is the classic Zulu instrument for solo song accompaniment.
A single-stringed Zulu musical bow with a gourd resonator.
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IsiZulu
UDW, nounn.uhlanga, nounn.
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