XPost: alt.banjo, alt.banjo.clawhammer, alt.music.african   
   XPost: rec.music.country.old-time   
   From: dilly@dandy.doodle   
      
    wrote   
    >...why, other than having a skin head and   
   > different length strings, these West African gourd instruments have any   
   > more than a passing resemblance to the 5-string banjo pattern as   
   > invented in the United States...   
      
   The 5-string banjo was not invented in the United States; it was brought to   
   the US by African slaves. The resemblance to the styles that evolved is   
   obvious, unless you're a troll.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)