An Introduction to African Musical Instruments

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Africa is a vast continent with an immense historyand numerous cultures. As such, there are also a great number ofdifferent instruments throughout the land.

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Africa is a vast continent with an immense historyand numerous cultures. As such, there are also a great number ofdifferent instruments throughout the land. This article will introducesome of the most common ones and their place in African culture.Cabasa(also known as axatse or shekere) - The cabasa is an African instrumentmade from gourd and is covered with seeds or shells. It is played bystriking on the legs and hands in different combinations. Hitting thetop of the instrument produces a deep drum-like tone. Because gourdsare used to make the instruments, and they all differ in shape, no twocabasas ever produce the same sound. The instrument is used infolkloric music, particularly by the Yoruba people of Nigeria.

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Agogô(also known as cowbell or gonkogui) - Like the cabasa, the agogô is anAfrican instrument that has it's roots in Yoruba music. The two bellson the agogô differ in size; the smaller bell produces a high tonewhilst the larger bell produces a low tone. The agogô is considered tobe among the oldest samba instruments and is used in many Yorubareligious ceremonies. Through African slavery, the instrument wasintroduced into other countries and used in new religions establishedoutside the African continent.

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Djembe - Thedjembe is an African instrument that emerged in the Mali Empire duringthe 12th Century. The drums vary in size but all have a skin coveringwhich, when beaten with the hands in various rhythms, produces a widerange of tones.Many djembe drums are made from a single carved piece ofwood and covered with a toughened goat skin.

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Juju- The juju is an African instrument made from dried palm nut shells andwood. The instrument is played very similar to a maraca with theshaking of one producing a percussive sound. Like many Africaninstruments, the Juju is used during many Yoruba ceremonies. Today, itis used very frequently in Nigerian music.Talking Drum - Thetalking drum is a West African instrument which is shaped like anhourglass. Both ends of the drum have a head which is beaten with astick. Tightening the strings of the drum can change the tone to suchan extent that some tribes use the differing tones as a means ofcommunication. The Talking Drum originated in the ancient Ghana Empireover one thousand years ago.

Thumb Piano -There are hundreds of different thumb pianos on the African continent.The Mbira is one such instrument. Constructed from hardwood and metal,the instrument is played by supporting the piano with one hand whilstusing the thumb and index finger of the other hand to pluck the keys.Thumb pianos hold much religious and social significance in Africa. TheShona people of Zimbabwe have been using the Mbira for over 1500 yearsduring their religious and social ceremonies.