The nyatiti is a musical instrument with five to eight strings that are plucked. It comes from Kenya and is traditionally played by the Luo people in Western Kenya, especially in the Siaya region north of Kisumu. The instrument is about two to three feet long and has a bowl-shaped, carved wood part covered in cow skin. In the past, strings were made from cattle tendons, but now most players use nylon and plastic fishing line of different sizes. This change greatly affected the sound of the nyatiti.

The nyatiti usually has eight strings. The tuning often follows a pattern from top to bottom: B-A-G#-E-E-D-B-A. The outer strings are the same note and pitch, and the middle two are an octave apart. Some modern players adjust the tuning to match their musical style. A common way to play uses the thumb and middle finger of both hands, alternating to create a rhythmic and circular pattern.

In traditional performances, the player sits on a short chair called the orindi. They wear a metal ring called the oduong'o around the big toe of the right foot and a set of metal bells called the gara on the right leg. The player uses the gara and oduong'o to keep a steady beat by tapping the ring on the bottom bar of the nyatiti.

The nyatiti is often played alone. In the past, some players were accompanied by male singers, and occasionally by traditional instruments like the curved horn called the oporo or tung', the single-string instrument called the orutu, or percussion. Modern players sometimes combine the nyatiti with Western instruments such as guitars, basses, keyboards, and drums.

Traditionally, players wear a headpiece called Kondo made from goat fur. Dancers may join performances and wear brightly colored skirts called Owalo, made from sisal fibers. Many younger players do not wear traditional clothing, choosing instead to wear modern attire.

Some believe that music from the nyatiti inspired the development of benga music.

Notable nyatiti players

• Ayub Ogada
• Eriko "Anyango" Mukoyama
• Charlotte Hill O'Neal (Mama C)
• Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno
• Obondi Diel Matara
• Dr. Pete Larson
• Thadayo Mtumra
• William Ogutu
• Amolo Kongo
• Andrew Bird, who performed the song "Nyatiti" from the album "Useless Creatures"
• Daniel Onyango
• James Obwanda
• Kake Wakake
• Lucas Odote
• Oduor Nyagweno
• Okumu K'orengo
• Ogola Opot
• Ogwang "Lelo" K'Okoth
• Isaac Anyanga
• Joseph Nyamungu
• Jennifer Atieno Sanna (also known as Ati Sanna)
• Faith Oduor
• Demba Ochenga
• Achieng Odonge
• Makadem (Charles Adamson)