The Secret Life of the Banjo

Image Credit Flickr User Steve Punter

Over at Neatorama there is a very interesting article about the history of the Banjo.  This humble instrument has had a rather interesting history, to say the very least.  The article tracks the banjo's roots from West Africa to, well it had to be included, its inclusion in the movie Deliverance. 

It also gives us here at Kuriositas a fine excuse to find and show the above picture of a banjo playing young chap - courtesy of Flickr user Steve Punter.  He has some wonderful portraits on his photostream, including some very striking ones of Sir Ian McKellen (or Serena as we call him in the UK!).  Click on the picture to get to the Neatorama article.