Simsimiyya

The simsimiyya (Egyptian Arabic: سمسمية, and سنسمية sinsimia/sinsimiyya; pl. simsimiyyāt/sinsimiyyāt) is a box or bowl lyre used in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and South Yemen.[1] Models exist with both circular soundboxes as well as rectangular.[1] In the past, Egyptian models had 5 strings, while those in Yemen had 6.[1] The strings are held in place by pegs instead of tuning rings.[1] Today, images of the instrument in Egypts may show 12 strings.

A simsimiyya being played by an Egyptian band.

Ancient Egyptian lyre.

It is used in Egypt in certain genres of Egyptian music, including Sawahli (coastal) music, which is a type of popular Egyptian music from the country's northern coast that is based around ancient Egyptian instrumentals. The simsimiyya was probably introduced to the country's northern coast from the Nile valley in the 19th century by Egyptian workers in the Suez Canal. It is also used in other genres of Egyptian music. Well known Egyptian bands that feature the simsimiyya as a main instrument include el-Tanboura, which uses other ancient Egyptian instruments.

The simsimiyya is often used to accompany an Egyptian dance called bambutiyya, as well as among the groups of Egyptian musicians known as suhbagiyya, in the cities of Port Said and Ismailia.

It is sometimes used in other countries neighboring Egypt as well.

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  Egyptian woman holding a pair of Egyptian simsimiyya lyres. According to the New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments, Egyptian simsimiyyas had 5 strings. Others had six strings. Images of modern instruments may have as many as 12 strings.
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  A simsimiyya being played by an Egyptian band.