Who invented the charango?

There isn't any definite information about the specific person who invented the charango. However, the origins of the charango can be traced back to the pre-Columbian era in the Andes region of South America. Indigenous communities in the Andes are widely credited with creating instruments similar to the charango's predecessors, using materials like armadillo shells or gourds and strings made from animal intestines. Later, during the colonial period, Spanish influences, such as the introduction of European string instruments, are believed to have contributed to the development and refinement of the charango as we know it today. Over time, charango makers in different regions of the Andes made innovations and modifications, leading to the variety of charangos seen in countries like Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.