For many early players, the instrument was more than a way to make music; it was a spiritual device used in ancestral rites and community worship.
In the mid-19th century, the banjo was adopted by white performers in minstrel shows. This era brought the instrument into the mainstream but also deeply tied its image to racial caricature. Roots of a banjo - Sourced Journeys For many early players, the instrument was more
Contrary to popular belief, the banjo is not a European invention but is of . Enslaved people brought the knowledge of gourd-based instruments—like the West African akonting —to the Americas, where they adapted them using available materials like wood and animal skins. For many early players