The valiha is a tube zither from Madagascar made from a species of local bamboo; it is considered the "national instrument" of Madagascar. The term is also used to describe a number of related zithers of differing shapes and materials.
A valiha player in Ambohimahasoa, central Madagascar
Valiha orchestra at the Paris World Exposition of 1931.
Valiha with larger diameter bamboo tube.
The tube zither is a stringed musical instrument in which a tube functions both as an instrument's neck and its soundbox. As the neck, it holds strings taut and allows them to vibrate. As a soundbox, it modifies the sound and transfers it to the open air. The instruments are among the oldest of chordophones, being "a very early stage" in the development of chordophones, and predate some of the oldest chordophones, such as the Chinese Se, zithers built on a tube split in half. Most tube zithers are made of bamboo, played today in Madagascar, India, Southeast Asia and Taiwan. Tube zithers made from other materials have been found in Europe and the United States, made from materials such as cornstalks and cactus.
Modern form of tube zither among highland minority groups in Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. It may be held against the chest. This particular instrument is the kong ring គង់រេង, which can substitute for a chorus of gongs, quietly.
Sihanaka woman in Antananariv, Madagascar playing a valiha, pre 1912 A.D.
Musician Wukir Suryadi of the Indonesian band Senyawa plays a modernized tube zither. Instead of pegs to tighten metal strings, the instrument has a guitar-style head with mechanical tuners.
A Sundanese celempung.
