The banjo is one of the most misunderstood instruments in history.Dismissed by some as a relic of hillbillies and folk music, celebrated by others as a symbol of Americana, its true story is far more extraordinary than most people realise.In this monologue, I explore the surprising origins of the banjo, the myths surrounding its identity, how it became America's first great instrument, and why it came to embody something far greater than music alone. Along the way, I reflect on my own unlikely relationship with the instrument, the time my banjo was stolen and promptly abandoned, and why its reputation has always been as divisive as the ideals it has come to represent.But the more I dug into its history, the more I realised this isn't really a story about an instrument.It's a story about America. And why one strange five-string instrument might just tell us more about freedom than almost anything else.#Banjo #America250 #FreedomOur show is independently supported by you, consider signing up to our substack to get added benefits like ad-free and extended episodes here: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk