The kirar is a lyre with five or six strummed strings with a plectrum. It is a traditional musical instrument practiced in Tigrai, alone or with an orchestra.
The main body of the Kirar is made from a wooden box or a mix of wood and animal fur. The strings are made from a tendon or a thin metal string. Nowadays, the kirar tends more and more to be electrified.
Modern Tigrai music increasingly uses Western instruments (guitar, bass, keyboards).
The real stars of kirar are Tsèhaytu Bèraki, and Kiros Alemayehu. There were/are also other artists known for their use of Kirar.