African Musical Instruments

Small handwoven noise-making device of African origins.

Gourd drum from Burkina Faso in Africa, which have a goat skin head.

Cowrie shells create the incredible percussive sound of this African rhythm instrument. From 1/2 a large gourd, painted and carved in striking African designs.

Traditional story tellers drum made in Morocco. Skin on both sides. Beautiful traditional painting on both skin heads.

This instruments was made in Kenya. It is mostly used for rituals and is wonderful when using two at a time. Still used as magical ceremonial rattles.

Shakers made of nut shells, quite loud with a sharp sound. When shaken or tapped it produces a rattly, loud sound, which can be heard over many drums.

Drums have many uses in African society and through the life span of the African. The sound of the drum is present during birth, initiation, and death. Made from various objects including calabash, gourds, wood, and bamboo, the "Talking Drums" are widely used in Ghana, called so because they can produce a wide range of pitches including high female sounds and low male sounds. There is a language that is spoken with these magical sounding drums. They send messages of happiness, sorrow and war to other tribes through the beating of the drum.

Kalimbas (thumb pianos, also called mbira) have played a part in African culture for 800 years. After work in the evening Africans sit in a circle, tell beautiful stories, sing and play kalimba. Also used to pass the time on long journeys on foot.

Originally fashioned from discarded 55 gallon oil drums by the 'panmen' of Trinidad in the mid 1940's. Popular throughout the Caribbean and in many other areas of the world, including the US. By varying the size of the notes on the top and the depth of the drum, the sounds range from a xylophone/piano combination to a resonance resembling violas and cellos beginning with a percussive beat.

This is one of the most famous West African musical instruments. It is an 18 string African harp-lute. It is used to accompany narrations, recitations and songs. Although it sounds like a harp, its playing style can be closer to flamenco guitar. The kora's body is made of a gourd cut in half and partially covered with the skin of a cow.

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MusixCool© By Nadav Dafni