Nod to The Legend · The instruments · 17th–19th century
The Banjo's West African Roots
From gourd lutes to bluegrass
The banjo descends from West African gourd lutes brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans. Black musicians developed it in the US before it spread into minstrel shows, string bands, old-time music and bluegrass.
Still heard: Every banjo roll carries that history.
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