Simsimiyya

A simsimiyya being played by an Egyptian band.
Classification	Stringed instruments

Thesimsimiyya (Arabic: سمسمية, and سنسميةsimsimyya/sinsimiyya; pl.simsimiyyāt/sinsimiyyāt) is a box or bowl lyre used in Egypt. Models exist with both circular soundboxes as well as rectangular. In the past, Egyptian models had 5 strings. The strings are held in place by pegs instead of tuning rings.^[1] Today, images of the instrument in Egypt may show 12 strings. It has been played sinceancient times.

It is used inEgypt in certain genres ofEgyptian music, includingSawahli (coastal) music, which is a type of popular Egyptian music from the country's northern coast. The simsimiyya was probably introduced to the country's northern coast from the Nile valley in the 19th century by Egyptian workers in theSuez canal. It is also used in other genres of Egyptian music. Well-known Egyptian bands that feature the simsimiyya as a main instrument includeEl Tanbura, which uses other Egyptian instruments.

The simsimiyya is often used to accompany Egyptian musicians known assuhbagiyya, in the cities ofPort Said,Ismailia, andSuez.[2]

It is sometimes used in other countries neighboring Egypt as well, includingLibya,Jordan, andSaudi Arabia.

• 
  A simsimiyya being played by Hassan aka Mohsen El 'Ashry of El Tanbura.[1]
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  Ancient Egyptian lyre.

• Shiloah, Amnon."The Simsimiyya: A Stringed Instrument of the Red Sea Area."Asian Music,vol. 4,no. 1,Near East-Turkestan Issue (1972),pp. 15-26.

• Kissar
• Krar
• Tanbūra
• el-Tanboura
• Music of Egypt

• Egyptian musical instruments
• Ancient Egyptian musical instruments
• Music of Egypt
• Ancient Egypt
• Lyres

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