 It was the first ensemble of its type, as these diverse instruments and ethnic groups previously had never played together.For a time, due to El-Dabh's efforts, the Orchestra was in residence at the Creative Arts Centre of Haile Selassie I University (now Addis Ababa University).Its main instruments included "krar" (medium lyre), "masenqo" (one-string fiddle), "begena" (large lyre), "washint" (end-blown flute with finger holes), "embilta" (end-blown flute without finger holes), "malakat" (straight trumpet), "kabaro" (drum), and other percussion instruments.