DESCRIPTION:
Here is the sound of an akonting I just got a few hours ago.

The half of the Daniel Jatta's father's tune.

The strings are not stable yet. And I think I need put thinner set of strings on it.

This is #3 Akonting made by Barry Sholder, in Georgia.
Below is the description he made for this particular instrument.
"This is a new Barry Sholder Replica #003 African Akonting 3 string banjo
The Akonting is the original ancestor ot the first banjo brought over on slave ships from west Africa
The banjo features highly figured Curly Maple neck with oil finish
The gourd is a canteen 9" dia x 4" deep with 1 1/2" sound port
Goatskin head treated with ScotchGard water repellant
The bridge is Curly maple...very tall according to documents and photos
The tuners are set at three different lengths. The 2 shortest ones are drones and the melody is played on the longest.
As far as tuning goes...there are many options if you google Akonting. This kind of lends itself to the fun of creating different rhythms and petterns.
The strings are 60lb. test monofilament (according to documents) fishing line. "