Ginger Napier. age 10, of Wilmington, Del., for her question:

WHEN DID THE BANJO ORIGINATE?

`The banjo is a stringed instrument of the lute family. It has an open backed round body consisting of a circular wood hoop over which is stretched a vellum belly (formerly nailed on, but now held tense by a screw mechanism. The banjo originated in Africa and was brought to

America in the 17th century by black slaves.

The banjo has a long, narrow, fretted neck and metal or metal wound gut strings. The strings run from a tail piece, over a bridge held in place by their pressure, up the neck to rear turning pegs (machine screws on modern banjos).

Five strings are typical. Four full length strings are used and there's a shorter fifth "thumb" string running to a turning screw half way up the neck. Often a five string banjo body is suspended in a metal or wood resonator. Early banjos had fretless necks.

Adopted by white musicians in the 19th century minstrel show troupes, the banjo gained frets and metal strings.

The five string banjo, plucked with the fingers, is common in folk music and commercial bluegrass bands. The plectrum plucked four string banjo was popular about 1900 in vaudeville bands.