The Korbi is an endangered traditional harp-like instrument created by the Fur people of Darfur, now rarely made or played. Resembling instruments depicted in ancient Sudanese wall reliefs, it was historically performed before kings and sultans. The rectangular sound box (35–40 cm) is carved from local wood such as dibkar or gufl, covered with stretched goatskin, and fitted with a curved neck of 50–60 cm. Its strings — made from tendon or metal — are tuned to a pentatonic scale passed down through generations. Played seated or standing with the box against the chest, the Korbi represents a vital but fragile thread in Sudan’s musical heritage.

The Tango-Dombari is a unique traditional string instrument used by the Funj tribes, including the Koma and Berta, typically played by women. It features a single string stretched over a curved cane bow, with a secondary side string, and is placed on a hollowed gourd that acts as a resonating chamber. The musician plucks the main string with the right hand while the left hand thumb strikes the side string, producing layered rhythmic tones. It is traditionally accompanied by a communal dance called Abom Bong, in which men stand shoulder to shoulder and stomp rhythmically. It reflects the musical and cultural heritage of the South Blue Nile region.

The Nugara is the general Sudanese term for any traditional drum and belongs to the membranophone family. It is made from a hollowed tree trunk with skin stretched over one or both openings and tightened with leather straps. Multiple Nugaras of different sizes are often played simultaneously, forming complex compound rhythms used for communication within the community — specific rhythmic patterns convey distinct messages. The name derives from the Arabic verb naqar, meaning to tap or strike. The Nugara varies across regions and tribes; among the Baggara, two or three drums are commonly used together. It accompanies various rhythmic traditions including Qiduma, Daluka, Bordy, and Nugara Hurra.

The Aqamu is a traditional wind instrument used by the Fung, Qamz, Berta, and Fa (Fazoughli) tribal groups of Sudan. It is commonly played at youth gatherings, engagements, and weddings. The player holds the instrument under the lower lip with one hand and blows across it, moving it left and right to vary the pitch — a technique similar to a pan flute. It consists of five open-ended pipe segments made from the bzaam plant, each ranging from 8 to 10 centimeters in length, with the length of each piece determining its pitch. The Aqamu is a rare and culturally significant instrument, closely tied to communal and ceremonial life in the Blue Nile region.

The Um Kiki is a bowed single-string instrument found across many Arab and African countries under various names — Amazdad in Algeria, Indonongo in Burundi, Masngo in Ethiopia, and Oroto in Kenya. In Sudan, it is widespread among the Baggara tribes of western Sudan and Darfur, used by the Messiria, Rizeigat, Aringa, and Masalit. It is played seated, with the gourd resonator held between the thighs, the bow drawn with the right hand, and pitch adjusted by the left. It accompanies both joyful occasions such as weddings and mournful ones such as laments. The gourd measures 20–25 cm in diameter, with a bow of 40–50 cm.

The Gourmi is a traditional two-stringed plucked instrument used by the Hausa people, known as the Gourmelo among the Fulani. It is crafted from a circular gourd, monitor lizard skin, and a cane stick. The instrument is held in front of the chest, with the thumb plucking the upper string and the index finger the lower, while the left hand adjusts pitch. Strings are tuned a fifth apart and tightened with tanned leather. It is used across Darfur, Sinnar, Kassala, Blue Nile, and Red Sea states during celebrations, weddings, and royal events, and is also known for its role in certain spiritual healing ceremonies.

The Rababa, also known as the Tambur, is one of Sudan’s most ancient stringed instruments, with Nubian carvings suggesting use over 7,000 years ago. It consists of a wooden bowl or dry gourd with strings tuned to a pentatonic scale, played with a plectrum while the left hand holds the instrument. Scholars including Kurt Sachs and Hans Hickmann have documented it as one of the world’s oldest instruments, comparable to the ancient Greek Lyra. In Sudan, it appears under various regional names: Tambur in the north, Kojang among Nubians, Shamsha in the Nuba Mountains, and Albanqarnq in western Sudan. It is played at weddings and celebrations.

The Dalouka is one of Sudan’s oldest traditional drums, predominantly played by women during festive occasions such as weddings and bridal dances. Widely known across Sudan, it is especially associated with River Nile State, Kordofan, and Blue Nile State, and is used by groups including the Ja’aliyyin, Hawazma, Nuba tribes, Berta, and Gumuz. It is handmade from a mixture of mud (benn clay) and straw formed into a conical shape, without kiln firing. Goat or sheep skin is tightly stretched over the top to produce its sharp, resonant sound. It is played with both hands and remains central to women’s cultural expression in Sudan.

The Asesgo Kashkoush is a traditional percussion instrument used exclusively as an accompaniment to the Waza wind instrument. It consists of a small dried gourd filled with tiny pebbles that produce a rhythmic rattling sound, complementing the Waza’s melody. Traditionally used by the Berta ethnic group in South Blue Nile, the player holds the shaker and moves it by hand to generate the desired rhythm. It is rarely played independently. Handcrafted from a dried gourd (locally known as Qowat), the instrument typically measures between 6 to 8 centimeters. Its history is inseparably tied to the Waza instrument and the Berta community.

The Kashkoush is a traditional percussion rattle used in the Kambala dance of the Nuba Mountains, South Kordofan. Kambala is one of Sudan’s most celebrated folk dances, performed during the rainy season, harvest festivals, and weddings by tribes including the Luguri, Murta, Miri, and Kika. The Kashkoush is tied to the dancer’s legs and produces a distinctive jingling sound as feet are raised and stomped. It is handmade from strips of doum palm leaves filled with hard seeds, measuring 6 to 8 centimeters in length. It symbolizes the deep connection between music, movement, and communal celebration in Nuba culture.