Bass Lutes

I have a slightly off-topic question... Awhile back John Starrett
posted an MP3.com link to Samba Traore's way cool Donso Ngoni songs:

<http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/94/samba_traore.html>

Does anyone know if this is the same instrument that Don Cherry played
in Codona - i.e., the "doussn'gouni"? Also, the sound of Samba
Traore's hunters harp is very similar to the Moroccan Sintir as well,
does anybody know of any other instruments in this international bass
lute family.

thanks,
Dan