Etymology
The word "banjo" comes from the African word "mbanja" (or "banza"), which referred to a stringed gourd instrument played by people in West Africa.
Meaning
A banjo is a stringed musical instrument with a round body made from stretched animal hide or plastic and a long neck with frets and strings.
Origin
The banjo originated in Africa and was brought to the Americas by African slaves in the 17th century. The African mbanja was a gourd with a skin stretched over the open end and a stick attached to the gourd as a neck. The slaves adapted the design by using a gourd or a wooden bucket as the body and adding a fretted neck.
The banjo quickly became popular among slaves in the Caribbean and the American South. It was used to accompany singing and dancing and was often played by self-taught musicians. Over time, the banjo evolved into several different forms, including the five-string banjo, the four-string banjo, and the plectrum banjo.
Today, the banjo is played in a variety of musical genres, including bluegrass, folk, country, and jazz. It is considered a symbol of American folk music and has been used by many famous musicians, including Earl Scruggs, Bill Monroe, and Pete Seeger.
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