The carimba, or quijongo, depending on where you are, is a simple musical bow instrument found across much of Latin America. It consists of a bow made of flexible wood (often guácimo) with a string (often metal) stretched between both ends. About a third of the way from the top, a gourd (usually jícara) resonator is attached to it. Sound is created by striking the string with a stick, with pitch variations made possible by covering and uncovering the resonator with the fingers. It is sometimes said that the instrument originated as a bow for hunting, but some creative soul started playing with it and the instrument was born.
In many ways, the instrument is similar to the berimbau found in Brazil, but where the berimbau has its roots in Africa, the carimba / quijongo came from the indigenous peoples of Central America.
