Harp-lyre whose use is common to Egypt and Sudan.

Traces of it can be found on the other side of the Red Sea along the Arabian Peninsula.

This five-string model, more “harp” than “lyre”, seems atypical with its “arm” formed of an ibex horn – capra nubiana – wild goat living in the desert and mountainous regions of the Maghreb and the Middle East. It is made from repurposed pieces of plywood and strung with metal cords presumably taken from a brake cable.

Under different local names “Tambùra”, “Tanpurra” etc, the Simsimyya reappeared at the beginning of the 20th century in popular Bedouin music.

Its name is also that of the musical repertoire of which it is the medium