ajakulu

Ajakulu is a traditional stringed musical instrument from the coastal archipelago of Nyora in the southern seas. It is part of the local ambulan oceans culture. The word ajakulu comes from the Nyoran language and is typically translated as "bright sound."

It features a carved wooden body, a light resonator, and a long neck with a movable bridge. Common configurations have four strings of gut or nylon, sometimes up to six. It is played with a plectrum made from tortoise shell or horn and is often performed with accompanying percussion to emphasize rhythm.

Historical records show ajakulu in use by seafaring communities as early as the 17th century, used during weddings, harvest festivals, and navigational rites. The instrument is typically passed down within families, and some ensembles use multiple instruments to create polyphonic textures.

There are regional variants: the longer ajakulu-lik with a deeper tone; ajakulu-min, lighter and higher pitched; and differences in scale length, body shape, and string material.

Today, ajakulu is recognized as part of intangible cultural heritage in Nyora. Makers occasionally incorporate modern materials, but traditional construction remains valued for its timbre and cultural significance.